Miniplane Progress
 

Here's some photos of my Smith Miniplane framework. What a challenge! I just assembled the cabanes today. I'm having trouble soldering the brass straps to the 1/8" wires. Any suggestions?

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

How about checking if silver soldering can be used to attach the parts.

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A & P mech retired from Horizon Airlines.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Just rough up the music wire and brass with 220 grit sandpaper, then clean the surfaces with rubbing alchol then apply the flux and tin the music wire first, tinning is putting a surface coating of solder on the wire first, before joining. Then put flux on the brass strap and position in place, heat the two parts and add a small bit of solder to allow it to flow out between the two joints. Your done, if your worried about burning the ply plate, you can make a mock-up set that holds the straps in position until the solder joint is done, then install the real plates after the straps are done. This is what I did on mine, it saved the wood from being destroyed and made the sealing and painting much easier, since it wasn't chared from the soldering iron.
EDIT: Silver solder is great, but the temps to melt true silver solder are so extreme that in this application, it requires a mapp gas torch or a acetylene turbo torch setup to flow-out, which means you'll surly burn the ply plate between the straps. If you want to silver solder the brass straps, buy the bernzOmatic low content silver solder with thier flux this is all you'll need to make a secure joint, and yes, I know the properties of silver solder before anyone flames me, I'm a HVAC service tech that solders, silver solders, brazes and welds for a living, so please don't start.;)

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Thanks for th advice. Last night, I took the straps off the wire and decided to start fresh. First, I'm gonna take a break from working on this. Been messing around with this all day!

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Who makes this kit? Good looking work.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

SIG, smith miniplane.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Well, I decided to go to the Hobby shop and get some equivalent thickness brass, rather than clean up the mess I made on the first try. This morning I was successful using the method Planebuilder66 suggested. I post pics later when I'm finished epoxying the plywood in place.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Great to hear that you got it done, Sometimes soldering seems like voodoo to some people, but it's just like doing body work on a vehical, it's all in preperation that makes it go smoothly. I've even done jigs in the past to hold the wires in place and 45% silfos the wires together. But that gear was 1/4" thick wire and I had the option of using the mig to weld it but that would have changed the metals properties by anneling it to a softer steel.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Make sure you are using real silver solder from the hobbyshop or Tower. Hardware store from the plumbing is not sliver solder it is non lead drinking water stuff; not the same.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Yes, the silver is actually the main componet that bonds to the wire, most hobby stuff is around 5% silver content, the really good but higher temp silver bearing solder is up to 50% silver, and it's only sold by the troy ounce. About 60 usd for an ounce of it. Buy then it's considered silver-braze.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

I used silver solder for sure. I work in the aviation industry and brought some home from my toolbox. I'm really good at soldering electrical wires for real aircraft cannon plugs, molex connectors, etc... but this was a little different for me. Anyway, I thoroughly cleaned everything and the epoxy is drying on one of the cabanes now.

RE: Miniplane Progress
 

Well it's been a while since I submitted a post. I finally finished my Smith and flew it today for the first time. Everything I've read in here was true. I'm glad I payed attention. Here's some pics