My kitchen sink has a gash in it that I'm trying to solder shut. I'm thinking I need at least a blow torch because my solder irons do not seem to get the sink hot enough to melt the solder. Any suggestions?
I have to confess I'm not sure what sub-forum this belongs in, if any - I don't recall seeing a thread about mending kitchen sinks before, lol. I think I'll move it to the Cafe - someone must do the washing up there, and maybe they'll know what to do.
Part of the problem is that a stainless steel kitchen sink has a lot of area to dissipate heat over. If you really don't want to replace it, maybe find someone to weld it for you. However, since you'll probably be putting food or at least dished in that sink you cannot use lead or other toxic metals -- that's why silver solder is now used in plumbing instead of lead.
A lot easier to replace the sink and it might not be too horribly expensive.
For what its worth the gash is about 3/4 of an inch long. But since one of the solders I tried to use has lead in it I am going to cease and wait until I can replace it. Like sam said though, the area is so large that I can't see the gash area getting hot enough to work. I was looking for a quick fix but will wait. By the way the gash got there when I threw a large iron skillet across the counter to avoid throwing it at the wife during an argument.
I hate to ask but how did you get a 3/4 inch cut in your kitchen sink? I assume it is not installed but a unit your fixing to install in your kitchen? If not I would love to hear the story!
Maybe just some good old silicon caulk. For those jobs that just won't work with duct tape or wire. Actually, Trashman's plumber's epoxy idea sounds better.