Hi All,
Have been doing some research on this recently and here is what I found. I was looking for true phosphor bronze hexagon bar stock in a specific size (1/2" AF, 5/8" AF, 3/4" AF).
Don't even try to find it here in Canada or in the USA or anywhere in North America. It doesn't exist. All there is is leaded bronze and nothing in hexagon. I need to be able to silver solder it. I have never been successful in silver soldering any type of metal containing lead (i.e. mild steel, stainless, brass, bronze). Others will violently disagree but I am talking about having a structurally sound joint which will be stronger than the parent metal. You can get a joint which looks good but it has no structural strength.
True phosphor bronze exists in the UK. There are two well known types Colphos 90 and PB 102. Both of these alloys have similar corrosion resistance.
Colphos 90 contains zinc and lead in addition to copper and tin and is very easy to machine - like brass. Sources vary on its silver soldering properties. I have not tried it but will not use it for what I want. It is available in rounds, square, hexagon, flat, strip etc. Not all suppliers have every type.
PB 102 is a wrought phosphor bronze. It contains no lead or zinc, just copper, tin and a bit of phosphorous. It is excellent for silver soldering and brazing. However it is difficult to machine (20-25% of free machining brass). It is supplied in rounds, square, hexagon, flat, strip, etc. Not all suppliers have every type.
The above can be ordered in very small quantities (sold by the inch or in 6 inch lengths or a foot in length) by a number of model engineering type metal houses. Despite this, it is not going to be cheap to buy and the shipping here is $$$. Some UK suppliers also do not ship here.
Have been doing some research on this recently and here is what I found. I was looking for true phosphor bronze hexagon bar stock in a specific size (1/2" AF, 5/8" AF, 3/4" AF).
Don't even try to find it here in Canada or in the USA or anywhere in North America. It doesn't exist. All there is is leaded bronze and nothing in hexagon. I need to be able to silver solder it. I have never been successful in silver soldering any type of metal containing lead (i.e. mild steel, stainless, brass, bronze). Others will violently disagree but I am talking about having a structurally sound joint which will be stronger than the parent metal. You can get a joint which looks good but it has no structural strength.
True phosphor bronze exists in the UK. There are two well known types Colphos 90 and PB 102. Both of these alloys have similar corrosion resistance.
Colphos 90 contains zinc and lead in addition to copper and tin and is very easy to machine - like brass. Sources vary on its silver soldering properties. I have not tried it but will not use it for what I want. It is available in rounds, square, hexagon, flat, strip etc. Not all suppliers have every type.
PB 102 is a wrought phosphor bronze. It contains no lead or zinc, just copper, tin and a bit of phosphorous. It is excellent for silver soldering and brazing. However it is difficult to machine (20-25% of free machining brass). It is supplied in rounds, square, hexagon, flat, strip, etc. Not all suppliers have every type.
The above can be ordered in very small quantities (sold by the inch or in 6 inch lengths or a foot in length) by a number of model engineering type metal houses. Despite this, it is not going to be cheap to buy and the shipping here is $$$. Some UK suppliers also do not ship here.
