Solderable paint?

[mwg]

I know of electrically conductive paints, but I'm looking for a a substance/product that can be painted to a non-solderable surface, let dry, and then soldered to. Anybody know of such a product? This is not an electrical application, so conductivity or other factors not important, I just need the solder to stick. Also, this would be a substitute for adhesive backed copper tape/sheet material, so this need not be suggested as an alternative. Thanks in advance for any help.

-MWG

 

[CocaCola]

Is there a reason you have to use solder to make the connection vs say a silver/grey colored epoxy that simply looks like solder?

 

[Electrobrains]

Hi MWG
Yes, you can probably use "liquid silver". It's for instance used for repairing heating conductors on car windows. I have tried to solder on such surface. Not totally easy, but as I remember I got it to work.

You can find a lot of those products on Ebay. Here is a link. I don't know what the English name for this product is (and I don't have time to search for it). Sure you will find it in whatever region you are based.

 

[mwg]

CocaCola: Yes, it's for stained glass so it should be solder, epoxy wouldn't have the same 'aesthetic qualities', shall we say.

Electrobrains: Thanks, I'll look into that.

 

[Electrobrains]

..Electrobrains: Thanks, I'll look into that.

I just looked a bit on the web. It seems everybody has difficulty to solder directly on the liquid silver surface.
A good tip was to put a small piece of wire into the paint, let it dry, fix it with rapid glue and solder to the wire.

 

[CocaCola]

CocaCola: Yes, it's for stained glass

Well copper foil is the time proven method for stained glass, for those that don't want to actually do the lead came method, is there a particular reason why are you trying to do it differently?

 

[KJ6EAD]

This probably won't help but a typical industrial process involves a molybdenum and powdered glass paint applied to a glass or ceramic surface which is then fired in an inert gas filled kiln to burn off the binders in the paint leaving a glass/molybdenum matrix which can be plated with nickel or gold and then soldered to.

There is at least one copper bearing metallizing paint that uses epoxy binders to make it heat resistant enough for soldering, but it may not be available for non-industrial use.

 

[mwg]

Well copper foil is the time proven method for stained glass, for those that don't want to actually do the lead came method, is there a particular reason why are you trying to do it differently?

I do both (came & foil methods), but occasionally there are instances where copper taping is difficult. The thought occurred to me that a paint-on solderable sustance would be a quick, easy, innovative solution. Although there is something to be said for tradition, if we do not try new ideas, innovation and advancement will not occur, right?

 

[shrtrnd]

I liked Electrobrains idea, I suppose it depends on your final application.
I will note, that they don't just make conductive silver in a nail-polish like base (used
for circuitboard trace repair). The also make a nickel and a copper version.
Check GC Electronics products.
Silver stuff is going to cost you a pretty penny with the precious metal price today.

 

[KJ6EAD]

A solvent-thinned epoxy with surface applied copper powder or flake may work.

 

[mwg]

I liked Electrobrains idea, I suppose it depends on your final application.
I will note, that they don't just make conductive silver in a nail-polish like base (used
for circuitboard trace repair). The also make a nickel and a copper version.
Check GC Electronics products.
Silver stuff is going to cost you a pretty penny with the precious metal price today.

Just got the nickel stuff, as suggested by the helpful clerk at my local electronics supply store (Al Lasher's Electronics, Berkeley, CA) I'll let you all know how it works out.

 

[mwg]

A solvent-thinned epoxy with surface applied copper powder or flake may work.

I really like this idea in terms of it sounding like it has a high probability of working, BUT it would possibly be just as time consuming as my struggling to get copper tape inside/around difficult angles/shapes of glass. I was really hoping for a ready mixed product that I could just paint on, let dry, solder.

 

[mwg]

Well, after a preliminary test, the nickel stuff (actual name: 'Nickel Print' by MG Chemicals) seems to work. Painted it on an edge of scrap glass (painted about 1", took all of about 20 seconds), let dry, soldered a bead along the painted edge, let cool, pushed on it with moderate pressure, and it held! Thanks for all the suggestions and if anyone knows of other products, I'd still be interested in knowing about them.,

 

[donkey]

http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=NM2831
I thought of this stuff, never tried it but i thought of it lol