Thanks for all answers!  It sounds like the thermal method is the
best option, but that MAY pose a problem, since we've already
purchased all the bits to be used as well as contracted the
manufacture of the brass components.  If the fit is still tight (as
it has been in the initial batch), I may try it.

As far as heating these things to red hot, that's probably not a
good option, as the parts are ridiculously tiny.  I'm hoping I can
use a heat gun to get it hot enough.

The real bugger is getting the nut to stay in place on the screw,
to affix the upper bit to where it needs to stay.

Anyway, thanks all!  I hadn't even considered it!

Mike H.

> > As far as soldering to steel, isn't that mostly a matter of using
> > the right flux?
>
>Silver solder will join steel to brass. Mike's app is physically small
>and it could get fiddly and may need cleaning up afterwards. Also
>the metals will have to be heated so hot (around 1200F) to melt the
>solder that you may as well use the thermal method as others have
>mentioned
>
>BTW, it's a good way of using up scrap metal in an "alternative art"
>kind of way. I once made what I thought was a pretty nice-looking
>wall piece out of brass plate with captured various diameter ball
>bearings and aluminium rod
>
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