Description
Harris Stay-Silv® 5 Silver-Phosphorus Brazing Alloy – 28 Stick Tube
Harris Stay-Silv® 5 brazing alloy, part number 5620F1, is a 5% silver phosphorus-copper filler metal designed primarily for copper-to-copper brazing and commonly used in HVAC, refrigeration, air-conditioning, plumbing, and general copper-piping applications. Stay-Silv® 5 provides a useful balance of flow, gap-filling capability, ductility, and cost for technicians who do not require the higher silver content of Stay-Silv® 15.
Harris describes Stay-Silv® 5 as a medium-range alloy that performs well where close joint fit-up cannot always be maintained. When heated quickly to its liquidus temperature, the alloy can penetrate tight capillary clearances. With slower heating, its melting range gives the operator additional control for filling wider gaps and forming a finished joint.
Product Highlights
- 5% silver phosphorus-copper brazing filler metal
- Designed primarily for copper-to-copper brazing
- Common choice for HVAC, refrigeration, and plumbing applications
- Self-fluxing on copper — no separate flux normally required for copper-to-copper joints
- Medium-range alloy suited for joints where close fit-up cannot always be maintained
- More ductile than Harris® 0 or Stay-Silv® 2
- Can penetrate tight clearances when heated rapidly to liquidus
- Melting range provides useful gap-filling control with slower heating
- Recommended joint clearance of 0.003–0.006 in.
- Can be used on copper-to-low-zinc brass with appropriate brazing flux
- Conforms to AWS A5.8 BCuP-3
- Harris manufacturer part number 5620F1
Technical Specifications
Base-Metal & Flux Guidance
Copper-to-Copper
- No separate brazing flux normally required
- Phosphorus content provides self-fluxing action on copper
- Suitable for copper tube, fittings, couplings, and line sets
- Commonly used throughout HVAC and refrigeration systems
Brass & Copper-to-Brass
- Use an appropriate brazing flux
- Harris Stay-Silv® White Flux is suitable for many brass applications
- Especially applicable to copper-to-low-zinc brass connections
- Clean base metals and proper joint preparation remain important
Common Applications
HVAC & Refrigeration
- Air-conditioning refrigerant lines
- Refrigeration piping systems
- Copper line-set brazing
- Equipment and component connections
- HVAC installation and service
- Maintenance and repair work
Plumbing & Mechanical
- Copper tube brazing
- Copper fittings and couplings
- Copper-to-brass connections with flux
- Mechanical piping assemblies
- General copper fabrication
- Field and shop repair work
Gap-Filling & Flow Characteristics
Stay-Silv® 5 is especially useful where joint fit-up cannot always be held to an extremely close tolerance. Harris classifies the alloy with a fluidity rating of 3 and recommends approximately 0.003–0.006 in. joint clearance.
Heating technique influences how the filler behaves. When the alloy is heated rapidly to its liquidus temperature, it can flow into tighter capillary clearances. A slower heating technique takes advantage of the alloy's melting range and can provide greater control when filling a wider gap.
Why Choose Stay-Silv® 5?
Stay-Silv® 5 is often selected as an economical alternative to higher-silver brazing alloys when joining copper and compatible brass components. It offers better gap-filling capability than very fluid phosphorus-copper alloys while maintaining self-fluxing performance on copper.
Compared with Harris® 0 and Stay-Silv® 2, Harris describes Stay-Silv® 5 as somewhat more ductile. Compared with Stay-Silv® 15, Stay-Silv® 5 contains less silver and provides a lower-cost option where the application does not require the additional characteristics of the 15% silver alloy.
Composition & Specification Compliance
Product Resources
Review current Harris manufacturer information, brazing procedures, base-metal compatibility, and safety documentation before final filler-metal selection or use.
Need Help Selecting a Brazing Alloy?
Our GetPipe.com team can help compare Stay-Silv® 5 with Stay-Silv® 15, Dynaflow®, Harris® 0, and other Harris brazing alloys, confirm base-metal compatibility, review joint-clearance requirements, and help with brazing fluxes, torches, regulators, and related HVAC supplies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Harris Stay-Silv® 5 used for?
Stay-Silv® 5 is commonly used for brazing copper tubing and fittings in HVAC, refrigeration, air-conditioning, plumbing, and general mechanical piping systems.
How much silver is in Stay-Silv® 5?
Stay-Silv® 5 contains approximately 5% silver. Harris technical information lists the silver content at approximately 4.8–5.2%.
What is the AWS classification for Stay-Silv® 5?
Harris Stay-Silv® 5 conforms to AWS A5.8 Class BCuP-3.
Does Stay-Silv® 5 require flux on copper?
No separate flux is normally required for copper-to-copper brazing because the phosphorus in Stay-Silv® 5 provides self-fluxing action on copper.
Do I need flux when using Stay-Silv® 5 on brass?
Yes. Harris recommends using an appropriate brazing flux when Stay-Silv® 5 is used on brass or copper-to-brass connections. Stay-Silv® White Flux is suitable for many such applications.
Can Stay-Silv® 5 be used on steel?
No. Harris does not recommend phosphorus-copper alloys such as Stay-Silv® 5 for steel or other ferrous metals because the phosphorus can form a low-ductility intermetallic with the base metal.
What joint clearance is recommended for Stay-Silv® 5?
Harris recommends approximately 0.003–0.006 in. (0.076–0.152 mm) joint clearance.
What is the melting range of Stay-Silv® 5?
Harris lists a solidus temperature of approximately 1190°F (643°C) and a liquidus temperature of approximately 1500°F (816°C).
Why use Stay-Silv® 5 instead of a higher-silver alloy?
Stay-Silv® 5 can provide a more economical option for many copper and compatible brass brazing applications while still offering useful ductility, gap-filling capability, and self-fluxing performance on copper.
What is the difference between Stay-Silv® 5 and Stay-Silv® 15?
Stay-Silv® 5 contains approximately 5% silver, while Stay-Silv® 15 contains approximately 15% silver. Stay-Silv® 5 is commonly selected as an economical medium-range alloy, while Stay-Silv® 15 is often chosen when greater ductility, service-vibration capability, or the characteristics of the higher-silver alloy are desired.
How is Harris part number 5620F1 packaged?
Harris part number 5620F1 is supplied as .050 x 1/8 in. flat brazing strip approximately 20 in. long, packaged as 28 sticks per tube.
Can Stay-Silv® 5 be used where sulfur is present?
Harris advises against using phosphorus-containing brazing alloys such as Stay-Silv® 5 where the finished braze will be exposed to sulfur or sulfur compounds in service.
Important Brazing & Safety Notes
- Use proper joint preparation, cleaning, fit-up, and heating practices before applying filler metal.
- No separate flux is normally required for copper-to-copper brazing.
- Use an appropriate brazing flux when joining brass or copper to brass.
- Stay-Silv® 5 is not recommended for steel or other ferrous base metals.
- Do not use phosphorus-containing alloys where the completed joint will be exposed to sulfur or sulfur compounds in service.
- Verify base-metal compatibility and brazing procedure requirements before use.
- Maintain proper joint clearance to promote capillary action and filler-metal distribution.
- Avoid overheating the base metal or brazing alloy; apply heat uniformly around the joint.
- Brazing fumes and gases can be hazardous. Use adequate ventilation and follow applicable hot-work procedures.
- Wear appropriate eye, hand, and body protection during brazing operations.
- Review current Harris technical information and safety documentation before use.
