I Broke My German Tanker Ashtray

[Olle]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Ollie, how is adding a set of new fasteners and holes in the components any better aesthetically than re-soldering? Heat would wreck the paint?

Yeah, I'm afraid that any method using heat will damage the paint and the old patina around the joints. I would use screws from the inside, that way you won't see much of them unless you peek inside. If you still want to use solder, use a large iron heated with a torch (like they used in the old time radiator shops), it will apply a lot of heat quickly. Once the solder melts, cool it down with a wet rag to prevent the heat from spreading. An electric soldering iron takes longer so it will spread the heat further out from the joint, and a torch is a no-no in my opinion.