Good evening all,
What is the best technique/ method for attaching brass stock to a diecast steamer shell? Would I be able to solder directly or would it be better to use some kind of adhesive?
Specifically looking for attaching brass flat metal stock to the sides and front of a donor shell. Picture side skirts or smoke deflectors.
Any and all help / opinions are appreciated.
Thanks,
Jon
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Manufacturers use posts on the detail parts into holes in the shell. Solder doesn’t work and adhesives will be weak unless the bond area is large.
These are details removed from an MTH engines.
Pete
You can’t solder to die cast, it doesn’t work. …best method is adhesives. I use JB Weld when I have to attach a brass piece to a die cast boiler. Best to figure out some sort of mechanical attachment as well as adhesive, ie; some sort of pin in hole arrangement, etc, ….this way, any adhesive is locking the fixture in place. I’ll go out of my way for a mechanical attachment, threaded hole & screw, press in pin fit, etc,….
Pat
Thank you both
If you are attaching where there isn’t a lot of surface to bond to such as a running boards edge. It would still involve something like JB Weld. You could glue some small steel metal stock to the running board. Then glue some small rare earth magnets to the brass panel. You can also buy thin metal stock sheet rather than use brass and would only then need to attach the magnets on the diecast. I think this would be easier to get everything lined up. The magnets should be strong enough to keep it in place.
I have a brass milk car. It was prototypical to use steel placards bolted to the cars sides. I bought some thin metal sheet stock. I think it was 005” . But you can get thicker. Applied decals and cut them out. I positioned the placard on the outside of the car. I used a magnet about the size of a nickel inside and while I held the placard in position and slid the magnet over to it. You can pull it off but it’s never going to fall off. This isn’t magnet to metal. There’s a piece of brass between them.
Whenever I can, I drill and tap a small hole, 2mm screws are your friend. 
I use this. It took some practice as it is more difficult than soldering brass copper steel etc. But it does work. Super Alloy 1 There is another method which involves copper plating the pieces and then soldering. The second link. j
Access to this requires an OGR Forum Supporting Membership
