Cracked Dovetail - is there a means of repair?

[DanR]

I have a dovetail that has a very minor crack of the upper portion that I am wondering if there is any such thing as making a repair?

Curious as to the type of metal also. Doesn't seem like pot metal.

 

[junkman]

It's chrome plated brass, I suppose you could braise it, but then you'd need to rechrome.

 

[DanR]

Thanks for the tip Jeff....I thought it was a bit too heavy for pot metal

 

[sunalp]

Not sure if it's pot metal, but it is a casting. Never seen them being repaired, but they do
crack like that, and that's not too bad. Maybe put some epoxy on the back to try and prevent it
getting worse?

 

[Bill Blue]

Or maybe epoxy a piece of sheet metal to the back.
Bill

 

[bobbo]

Drill a small hole at the end of the crack. this will prevent further cracking for now. I would suggest a 'V" channel filed along the crack and then soldered or silver soldered. will be less heat than braising, so might preserve the chrome.
Cheers, Bob

 

[PawPaw]

Dan, there is a product called Muggy Weld. It's for repairing pot metal. I plan on ordering a kit in near future. I need repairs on the window post on my series 1.

 

[DanR]

I'll look into it.

Thanks, and let me know what you do with yours,

 

[mikephillips]

Unfortunately the driver's side ones always seem to crack or completely break off. Due to the higher use in opening and closing I expect over the years than a passenger side one. So l/h side, facing forward on lhd cars and r/h side on rhd. Probably the only real fix would be if a supplier made them out of a tougher material.

 

[Barry]

The right way to repair a structural brass casting is by brass welding, not by low strength soldering. My preference would be TIG welding with 100% Argon and a brass filler rod, but a small oxy-acetylene torch would work. No matter the heat source (or filler), cleaning and fluxing is critical for brass.

Chrome plating cannot be soldered, brazed or welded so it has to be removed in the area of a thermal repair.