Silver brazing wire...Valuble or not?

[niffler]

Hi, I stopped at a yard sale on my way home from work today. I saw a box with some rusty tools and some spools of wire, I also saw that 2 of the spools of wire were marked "Silvalloy The American Platinum Works Newark, New Jersey". I bought the box of stuff for $5. When I got home I looked up Silvalloy on the computer and it turns out it is silver brazing wire. I think it is 56% silver, but I'm not sure. The alloy number is QQ-S-56ID, class 4, wire size 1/16", weight 12 O.T. I weighed the wire off the spool and it weighed 11.34 troy ounces for one and 11.90 troy ounces for the other, for a total of 23.24 troy ounces. I multiplied this by .56 to get 13.01 troy ounces of silver if it is really 56%. If this is right then it is worth over $500! Does anybody know about this stuff? Any help or advice appreciated. Also, who could I sell this wire to? Thanks, Niffler

 

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[High Plains Digger]

I have a roll also. I will be watching for the information you receive. I think mine is 50/50 silver solder and may have been used for stained glass.

 

[cw0909]

i found this info,and i didnt see any more info,for that co. later than 44,and that 44 info,was
just a refrance to the APW co.,not sure this is what your wire is made of though
i would send it to the refinery or call them and see whats up with the wire

info
Title:
Thermocouple wire
United States Patent 2335707
Inventors:
Streicher, Johann S.
Publication Date:
11/30/1943
pdf link,lots of tech info
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2335707.html

Platinum-Rhodium
Matched Pair
Fine-Diameter Thermocouple
Wire for High-Temperature Applications
http://www.omega.com/Temperature/pdf/SPPL.pdf

Midwest Refineries are buyers, smelters, refiners and brokers of all platinum metals
http://www.midwestrefineries.com/platinum.htm

edited,for a link and info
sorry meant to give you the silver link to
http://www.midwestrefineries.com/silver.htm
and ive lost the silver alloy link,to that co. if i find it again ill post

 

[cw0909]

i found the one reference but not the other

The American Platinum Works:
refiners and manufacturers of platinum, platinum metals, gold and silver : catalog no. 16, platinum laboratory wares,......American Platinum Works, 1930 - 43 pages

http://tinyurl.com/4yx2jju

 

[niffler]

This wire is much harder than regular lead based solder, and when I looked up "silvalloy", it still seems to be made and has many grades of silver content. Thanks for the info, I didn't realize it was so old. Niffler

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

I dont know this solder but the hard silver solder I used in A/C repair came in 5%, 15% and 40%.

I doubt that its thermocouple wire. Silvalloy was still made for brazing when I worked a few years back but like you say many different alloys. http://www.bellmanmelcor.com/silvaloy_15.htm

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Good guess on 56%. It says most Silvalloy solders are over 20%. I would have bought it in a second for $5. http://www.silvaloy.com/hiag.php

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

You may try a pawn shop to have it tested.

 

[digging wv]

Used silver alloy in high temp applications.

 

[High Plains Digger]

So if it says "Lead Free Silver Solder", but has no numbers, how much silver may be in that? I also purchased this at a sale way back, probably when silver was $4 just because it said silver.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

So if it says "Lead Free Silver Solder", but has no numbers, how much silver may be in that? I also purchased this at a sale way back, probably when silver was $4 just because it said silver.

I would say very little if its soft. If its hard it could be anywhere between 5% and 55%. Can you post a pic?

 

[cw0909]

niffler i think the 56% silver is 56% silver, i found a chart/table for 56%
silver,has no Nickel,and copper is 56% too

Alloy Silver % Copper % Zinc % Nickel % Tin %
Safety-Silv® 56 -56 -22 -17_- 5
http://www.oki-bering.com/PDFs/CatalogbyManufacturer/OKICAT07-HA.pdf

 

[niffler]

Thanks everyone for the input. I emailed ARA refinery to see if they will accept the wire, hopefully they will but I haven't heard back yet. Good luck and HH, Niffler

 

[High Plains Digger]

Big Cy--here it is. Maybe this will help others that have stuff like this in their garages, if it is valuable!

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

Big Cy--here it is. Maybe this will help others that have stuff like this in their garages, if it is valuable!

I have used that solder. Its soft and not very valuable. I believe it is sold at Home Depot for plumbing. My guess very lo silver percentage.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

It doesnt say how much silver is in it but my guess its so small its negligable. Sorry. http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/6a/6a880608-6acd-4257-b771-b2e1ae1f6454.pdf

Value $10 http://www.downwindmarine.com/Silver-Solder-Oatey-Safe-Flo-Lead-Free-p-24774.html

 

[cw0909]

i have 3 of the same roll,bought at a yard sale,in a junk box for 5$,found this info
silver content it says 1-5%,may need to save them and add more as i find them

consumer product information database
http://www.whatsinproducts.com/information.php?brandNo=15-001-079

Ingredients
Chemical CAS# or ID %
Tin
007440-31-5 60-100
Copper
007440-50-8 1-5
Bismuth
007440-69-9 1-5
Silver
007440-22-4 1-5

 

[High Plains Digger]

Oh, well. At least I have some solder for emergency plumbing. Yea, sure. I am as handy as a one armed paper hanger in a butt kicking contest.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

i have 3 of the same roll,bought at a yard sale,in a junk box for 5$,found this info
silver content it says 1-5%,may need to save them and add more as i find them

Its good to keep a roll for plunbing work but dont bother saving them for the silver.

 

[High Plains Digger]

Thanks niffler! It was beneficial for a couple of us to piggy back on your topic. Thanks for starting this!