49317

Filling casting grooves with tin or zinc [Connecticut] 

July 10, 2008

We have a cast part that looks similar to a heat sink. The material is cast 316 SST. There are 13 grooves approx 9" long. The grooves are 1/6" wide by 1/8" deep. We would like to completely fill the grooves with either tin or zinc. Our initial thought is to tin plate the entire part and then try to fill the grooves with non-lead solder and a torch. We are not sure if this will work. The part needs to be lead-free. Are there any methods for filling the grooves with tin or zinc other than trying to use solder? Plating? Immersion? Pouring?
Any help/thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Peter Gumprecht
Product Designer - Wallingford, CT, USA

I would use a plumber's pot and ladle molten tin or zinc onto the part. Tin costs more but will trim easier. You will need to make a heat resistant form to go around the "block" and be no higher than the top so any excess can run off and be recycled.
You will be far happier than trying to torch it.
Have you considered stainless steel putty from a major vendor of filled epoxies? Safer and cheaper and moderately conductive with no dissimilar metals to form corrosion.

James Watts
- FL