What is the brass piece your working on?
If you are trying to repair a crack or split in brass, soldering will not be strong enough alone. Your best bet would be to cut a second piece of brass and solder it over the damaged piece.
"Brass is made of “varying proportions of Copper and Zink,” according to
Science. Brass also contains other metals, such as lead and sometimes arsenic. There are more than 60 types of brass. We will focus on the most commonly used brass alloys found in:
- C360: Pipes, fittings, automotive
- C330 Marine environments, tubes
- C260 Jewelry and Decoration
Brass C360, or free cutting brass, is commonly used in pipes and machine fittings. It has a high percentage of lead making it one of the easiest types of brass to solder.
Brass C330 or low lead brass is ideal for tubes and use in water environments. It has a low lead content and resists corrosion.
The brass used in jewelry, and decorative applications is called C260 or cartridge brass. It is high in both zinc and copper. This brass alloy is easily malleable without losing strength. Cartridge brass does not contain lead"
Be sure you have grade easy silver solder. The type of solder is important for it to work properly on brass. Yet, it is a common mistake to attempt to use
lead solder and not have it work properly.
Allow your project to cool for a few minutes before cleaning it with water and baking soda. Cleaning with the water and baking soda will help remove any leftover flux. Flux can be corrosive to metals if not cleaned off.