Soldering ramrod pipes to the barrel on an underhammer

[wizard71]

At the risk of being redundant. I earlier posted this under builders bench. It probably should have been here. I tried to move it not couldn't. Sorry

I'm in the process of building an underhammer rifle using an old numrich 15/16 - 36 inch .45 cal barrel I have. I got a forestock from Deer Creek. The ramrod channel is routed into the bottom barrel channel of the forestock.
Here's the problem and my question.
When I attach the forestock to the barrel, which is pinned using two 3/32 holes drilled through the bottom flat of the barrel, I have to attach the ramrod pipes directly to the barrel. I thought about solding them to an underrib and screwing it to the barrel. But, there isn't enough wood to drill or route a ramrod channel in the forestock.
Sorry to be so long winded!!
How do I solder the ramrod pipes to the barrel? I worried about damaging the barrel with too much heat.

 

[roundball]

Don't have a clue...and it does sound like the Builder's Bench is the right place for it.
:thumbsup:

 

[John Taylor]

I use the solder from Brownells that has no lead for most projects that I don't want to get to hot, melts around 440. On your thimbles I would use screws or make a thimble with a flat base so there would be more area for the solder.

 

[BS]

Cannoneer,

I just did a advanced search for;

solder pipes

There were several good threads about solder, then I hit the wrong X and they were gone!

Hope this helps! :winking:

 

[musketman]

It probably should have been here. I tried to move it not couldn't. Sorry

No big deal, I moved it for you...

 

[gmww]

I posted a photo of my Deer Creek underhammer barrel showing the solder'd pipe. Forget which thread. Not sure what they used but there is a slight groove machined out of the barrel to cradle the pipe.

 

[Zonie]

If you use a solder with a few percent of Silver in it it will melt around 430 degrees F.
This is low enough that there will be no damage to the barrel.

A electric soldering iron/gun will not have the heat required to do this job. You can use a propane torch.

I would recommend filing or sanding a flat on the area of the pipe which will interface with the barrel flat. The more flat surface the pipe has, the stronger the solder joint will be.

Both the barrel and the pipes will have to be absolutely free from oil or other contaminents and you should flux and apply a thin coating of solder to both the barrel and the pipe where they are to be joined.

When heating the metal, do not direct the flame at the place where you want the solder. Heat an adjacent area and let the heat flow to the joint area.

To keep the pipes aligned, use a very straight wooden dowel. The wood will allow the pipe to heat up without pulling the heat out of it like a metal rod would do.

You should follow this link for more soldering tips.
SOLDERING TIPS