Here is my attempt at a Stokes rescue basket. Made from .020 brass rod. This is my first time time at soldering as a hobby, and the fifth basket. Seems that working with a thin rod kinda distorts it's shape. Anyone have any tips that may help!!!

Sweet, Joe, Verrryyy sweet. Can't see the distortion you speak of in the pics... , but, (& this may be a silly question) are you using a heat sink? May lick the problem for you if not.

BTW-when you perfect this technique you should kit it & sell it!

Thanks Rob,
I'm going to plead guilty here...what is Heat Sink. Anyhow I started out cleaning the rod and using Flux. To be honest the Flux made more a mess I stopped using the Flux on the third one, and had better results. It even seems as stong or stronger. I think that the rod being so thin and that it heats up so fast, thats way it distorts some, not sure. I'll have to file it down as you can see the solder. I wonder what it's going to look like in 1/48th.

Gino what do you think, good enough to hang on a MH-60, 53 helicopter.

Nice job Joe. Very nicely shaped, good depth.
Are you planning a mesh type of outter covering?

Here's a link for a really fancy heat sink- Joe.....
from good old radio shack.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103242&cp=&pg=5&kw=soldering&parentPage=search

Being cheap.... I use these..... :-)
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062233&cp=2032058.2032235.2032304&parentPage=family
beside being cheap, they are small.

Looks great, Joe. It will look perfect in an MH-60G. Awesome job.

Joe that looks darn good. I too will be trying soldering rather then CA glue on my metal joints soon as well.

I agree with the others that it is a heat problem. My local electronics shop has special heat dispersing clips for this type of thing.

Cheers
Cliff

Thanks for all the tips guys, much appreciated. I have one that it good enough and will post a pic real soon.

Scott, yes I’ll be adding a wood back support and a mesh to the inner bottom.

Cliff I only wished I had tried this sooner. I don’t know why I thought it was harder than it is. I suggest only going for it, what else do you have to lose. I have so many projects running through my head right now. :-)

looks great joe!!!!!!!!!!

ya gonna use mesh from the splatter screen that ya use on skillets?

be sure to post finished product, know its gonna be great..........



reb in texas

I must admit, I was reading this thread and was scratching my head too when I got to the heat sink thingy! Thanks for all the responses clearing it all up for the likes of Joe and me.

Joe, I salute you for an outstanding job and having the guts to jump right in there and give it a shot....but then again, as you said, you don't have much to lose by trying, right?

Kirby