Hi all,

Hoping someone can help out witha relatively simple question - whats the best way to 'weld' paperclips together?
Should I solder 'em, braze 'em or trust to superglue..?
FTR, I don't want to trust to superglue

acav out

Cant help you with your question, but why would you want to to? If you need longer pieces would it not be easier to buy brass rod or piano wire?

Maybe you could explain and get a better or alternative answer!

the best bet would be using some Copper wire from an old electrical fixture of some extra wire.

I use paperclips all the time to make racks and stuff. I use superglue.

Well, what I want to do is take paperclips and bend 'em in a shape suitable for making racks and frames, like turret bustle storage racks etc.

Sometimes I will have to join two or more separate pieces together - I'm aiming for a strong bond and somehow I don't think superglue will cut it.

I 'm not considering using brass or piano wire because I don't think I'll be able to bend 'em into the exact shape I require as easily as paperclips, which are much more maleable - as anyone who's sat through a sales presentation can attest (I've bent those little buggers into all sorts of shapes through jargon inspired ennui...)

Correct me if I'm wrong, but if a metal is attracted to a magnet, then it can be soldered..?

Still wondering...

acav out

Superglue would be easiest and best. As long as they are not actually being handled and used to hold weight, the railing, grab handle, etc. should not come apart or off the model.

Well just like brass rod you will have to file a curve into the end of paperclip if you wish to have a solid fit at "T" angles. I have never had to join two piees end to end. As I stated earlier I use paperclips all the time.

Hi ACAV

Great to hear you back modelling again.

Great to hear you have the stuff out of storage and set up.
Good luck with finding the answer to your question.

I would have thought due to the nature of the material paper clips rae made of soldering would be out but I am happy to be corrected.

Regards

Fordboy

Acav, as I recall hearing, paper clips were made out of C1038 grade steel so you should be able to solder it so long as you rough up the mating surfaces well and use flux you should be fine. Any non-magnetic steel{coated or uncoated} would be 302 stainless steel which has a high nickel content{among other things} and that would be hard to solder. I like the idea of stranded electrical lead, can be bought by the foot at home depot{or place of choice} and unwrapped to yield lots of useful pieces...and is easily soldered. It's drawback of course is that it's softer than your paper clips.

{I make rivets for a living so I'm getting an education about most metals used in the industry}

Why are you using paperclips? Use florist's wire or even one of the many thicknesses of fuse wire. I think you'l find it's 'slightly' easier to use...Jim