Alan, there have been reported failures of silver solder, most notably Kenny Falconer's twin powered F-18 loss. To each his own, and I get that, but, man, I don't think I would go there.........

And on "push or pull" some of my 4-40 threaded rod have a piece of brass tubing slid over it, and pinned in between the nut on the metal clevis, and the plastic of the kwik lock. Will not bend ever. That is in particular on my "push" for up elevator. On the pull, it really is not neccessary unless you are going to do a lot of outside loops.

Of course this also has a lot to do with distance of the rod. All mine are under three inches a most are under 1.5. Very very strong at that length.