Soldering K & C figures (1 Viewer)

[billy1]

I believe K & C pieces are lead-free pewter. I saw that somewhere. What is the metal composition? Has anybody soldered K & C figures in repair work, or for other reasons? I ask because there is a solder paste with a melting point of 400f advertised as great for pewter. Does anybody have any soldering experience with our figures?

 

[Toy Soldier Brigade]

I wouldn't be using a hot soldier iron on them. You'll have a puddle of goo. I'd use glue for repairs.

 

[binder001]

I agree, any repairs should be made with ACC ("super glue") for small parts and epoxy for larger or stronger connections. Unless you are a VERY experienced solder person and are very aware of the alloys used in each batch of soldiers you will quick ruin a figure and possible burn yourself in the process.

Gary

 

[billy1]

No solder iron intended. just considered careful application of molten solder.

as to alloys- that is the question. what are they and the proportion of each to the total? does anybody know?

Thank you for the epoxy and super glue recs Gary. But, is there a weight limitation on an epoxy bond? for instance, can the barrel of a tiger broken off at the first joint from the turret be successfully bonded by epoxy to hold the weight of the barrel for the indefinite future? In such a situation is the stronger bond epoxy, or is the solder bond stronger?

 

[kilted vampire]

No solder iron intended. just considered careful application of molten solder.

as to alloys- that is the question. what are they and the proportion of each to the total? does anybody know?

Thank you for the epoxy and super glue recs Gary. But, is there a weight limitation on an epoxy bond? for instance, can the barrel of a tiger broken off at the first joint from the turret be successfully bonded by epoxy to hold the weight of the barrel for the indefinite future? In such a situation is the stronger bond epoxy, or is the solder bond stronger?

Billy if you want that joint to stay then you will need to pin it as well. I would hollow out both ends of the break and insert a pin and then use the CA glue.
Make sure you have the alignment you are looking for then use a "kicker" to set it.

 

[Steven Chong]

I believe K & C pieces are lead-free pewter. I saw that somewhere. What is the metal composition?

K&C has never posted that their figures are made from lead-free pewter. The prior posts concerned lead-free paint where K&C, Britains and Figarti all posted they the paints used on their figures contained no lead. I am not sure how you intend to apply the molden solder, but I once tried to do use solder to fix a metal figure. If you have the molden solder on the tip of your soldering iron and touch it to a metal figure, it will deform the area touched and you will ruin the details. If you hold the soldering iron too far away, you will end up with a blob of soldier in the area you want to repair since the solder will cool too fast to flow into a joint. I would strongly suggest following the suggestions of using super glue.

 

[Wraith]

I've used a 2 part epoxy to refic a barrel broken off at the mantlet and it has held up fine, but KV's suggestion would give it more strength.
2 part epoxy is magic stuff as long as you don't get it stuck on your fingerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

[plasmapulse]

K&C has never posted that their figures are made from lead-free pewter. The prior posts concerned lead-free paint where K&C, Britains and Figarti all posted they the paints used on their figures contained no lead. I am not sure how you intend to apply the molden solder, but I once tried to do use solder to fix a metal figure. If you have the molden solder on the tip of your soldering iron and touch it to a metal figure, it will deform the area touched and you will ruin the details. If you hold the soldering iron too far away, you will end up with a blob of soldier in the area you want to repair since the solder will cool too fast to flow into a joint. I would strongly suggest following the suggestions of using super glue.

WB and Figarti both use lead free pewter but K&C figures do contain lead. Don't know how much though. Aside from that, I wouldn't recommend soldering either.

 

[billy1]

Thank you all. I appreciate the advice and time you gave it.