Obscure tools, tips & tricks of the trade

[SirRawThunderMan]

Here's a thing I had no idea about: Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish also works wonders on brass.

[Ridire Fíréan]

The major downside is that I've yet to come across a brand that isn't loaded full of lead, so it's not 100% safe, health-wise.

Hey @SirRawThunderman  !  Better late than never I suppose, but there are several brands out there that offer Lead-Free Solder Paste.

I bought MG-Chemicals SAC305 Solder Paste in a syringe.

https://www.tequipment.net/MG-Chemicals/4900P-25G/Solder-Paste/
Lead Free No Clean Solder Paste
https://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/MG-Chemicals/4900P-25G?qs=T9%2FYQF%252B4MzOyTyQ0hAyoCA%3D%3D&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2J6avdO_5QIVxpyzCh3BzANYEAYYASABEgKUEPD_BwE

It worked just fine after I first opened it, but it definitely has a shelf life.  The last time I tried to squeeze some out it was very difficult, and I had to take it out through the tube itself rather than through the needle.



Kester brand also makes several blends of Lead-Free Solder Paste...

R276 Solder Paste


I used mine to solder CREE Leds on Tri-Cree Sink Pads in an Aven 17100-200 Solder Pot.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Aven-200-Watt-Lead-Free-Solder-Pot-17100-200/206750644



I hope this helps!

[SirRawThunderMan]

This popped up on my YouTube recommendations earlier today. It's an over elaborate way of making brass washers from scrap. Not directly saber relevant, but Pocket83's method could be adapted to making the ever popular radiator disk-type crystal chamber assembly, for those of us who don't have lathes to easily machine brass disks with.

[SirRawThunderMan]

Could be handy for staining saber crystals, too. If IPA prices ever go back down again.

[K-2SO]

We use to use stain glass paint. I probably still have some in a few colors.

[SirRawThunderMan]

Here's one I wish I'd have learned much earlier:

When drilling through brass, USE CUTTING FLUID OR MACHINE OIL. It helps prevent workhardening from friction, and thus brass parts getting grabbed at high RPMs and flung all over your workshop.

This message brought to you by feeling like an idiot after years of constantly screwing up brass parts