Keith, I have used that same wire from McMaster Carr since 1970 with no bad results and it is wonderfully tweakable but bomb-proof. I think you'll learn to love it. I use very high temp silver solder. No, not the 2% silver stuff, what I get from McMaster Carr is 45% silver, cad free by Harris Co. You need to get the special flux for it which is lacking a label on my jar, I've had it for years!!! The beauty of this flux is that the silver solder flows ONLY where the flux cleans, allowing you to control both strength and weight of the joint. It solders quite nicely with a propane torch.