Where the
world gathers for metal finishing
Q&As since 1989


-----

Elimination of Bernite bath and how to avoid pinkish discoloration on brass/copper brazed joints

I have a process where I am brazing 122 H.D copper parts & 260 brass into a brass body. I flux using Handy Flux then braze using silver solder (using a turbo torch). This process leaves both a highly blackened workpiece and a pinkish/copper colored look on some of the brass. I Bernite each piece which effectively removes the flux & black residue but does not remove the pinkish/copper discoloration. We further the process the parts by hand filing and acid washing the parts to "brighten them up". I want to try to 1) eliminate the Bernite bath, 2) avoid the pinkish/copper color problem on the brass and eliminate the acid bath. Both the Bernite and acid bath (sulfuric) are environmental issues and the pinkish/copper discoloration requires hand work with is costly. Any suggestions that may include different fluxes, solder pastes, processes would be greatly appreciated.

Kevin Jenkins
- Oldcastle, Ontario, Canada
2003

---

November 16, 2010

I have been cleaning copper for 40 + years and I think I can save you some time and effort. No charge, call me....just trying to help ...see Dancar.Com.

The product you see has NOT been polished.

Dan Carten
- Middlebury, Connecticut USA