Does Anyone Braze Anymore ??

[Gordon Gould]

I had to make a split bushing today so I could use a Cat 1 top link on a Cat 2 implement. I brazed the short bushing pieces to the washers so the parts would be easier to find in the tool box and easier the assemble. Brazing was fast and easy. Maybe 5 minutes. I never hear anyone mention brazing now-a-days. Is it just to mundane to talk about or is it a process of the past? I still braze lots of stuff. If I tried to stick weld this it would be a mess.



gg

 

[CAVEMANN]

I still braze occasionally, my multi process will do DC TIG but have no need so far, may someday but dono, I'm gettin old!

 

[George2615]

I have two stick welders and a mig but I still braze. The mig is a HF cheapy and only has a couple settings and usually blows through light metal too easily. The majority of my brazing is exhaust system piping and I find it easier and faster to braze. I usually use wire coat hangars and they do a great job. I've thought of buying a TIG but not worth the cost for the amount I'd use it.

 

[rhunt]

I have brazed many items and find it very handy for more delicate work. I have used it to clad bolts when used as an axle so they do not corrode when subjected to salt spray or calcium spray. There are many different alloys available and a little research will enlighten many with the tinsel strengths of the materials available. It is another tool in my kit-bag for repairs etc. Bob

 

[Raspy]

George,

Wire coat hangers for brazing? What am I missing here?

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

I have used TIG brazing for cast using Alum-bronze rod. I liked it, very controllable.

I have not oxy/acetylene brazed anything.

I enjoy oxy/acetylene welding, but only do it in class for the student demonstrations.

Your braze looks great Gordon I would have TIG welded it only because it's easier for me.

 

[flyerdan]

Unless he has a stash of coat hangers made of brass wire, that would be O/A fusion welding with mild steel. Brazing doesn't require melting the base metals to achieve joining. It's more like soldering in that respect.

 

[George2615]

George,

Wire coat hangers for brazing? What am I missing here?

I don't know what you are missing. I was brazing something many years ago and ran out of brazing rod on a weekend. A welding buddy of mine told me to borrow some coat hangars from the wife to finish the job. I did and they worked great and I've been using them ever since. Try it sometime.
I just get the two sections of exhaust pipe cherry red and the feed the coat hangar. As it melts it flows right where it should. The brass hangars are getting harder to come by but once in a while a buddy of mine runs across a stash and drops them off. Last time I bought actual brazing rod was over ten years ago.
Maybe I should have called it fusion welding with mild steel as Dan said.

 

[Raspy]

I don't know what you are missing. I was brazing something many years ago and ran out of brazing rod on a weekend. A welding buddy of mine told me to borrow some coat hangars from the wife to finish the job. I did and they worked great and I've been using them ever since. Try it sometime.

I'd be happy to try it, but I only have coat hangars made with steel wire. Never seen brass wire coat hangars. Steel wire is welding, brass is brazing.

 

[fried1765]

I have two stick welders and a mig but I still braze. The mig is a HF cheapy and only has a couple settings and usually blows through light metal too easily. The majority of my brazing is exhaust system piping and I find it easier and faster to braze. I usually use wire coat hangars and they do a great job. I've thought of buying a TIG but not worth the cost for the amount I'd use it.

To me; using "wire coat hangers", is gas welding.
When I "braze" I use brass rod.

 

[yomax4]

Some coat hangers work ok and I have tried them for welding but. Steel, Brass, SIB, 4130 etc. Just do a nicer job. Some of the old hangers work better than the new stuff. Clean with a scotch-brite 1st though. I like the old 14FC nickel silver coated rods. You can braze overhead with them.

 

[George2615]

I'd be happy to try it, but I only have coat hangars made with steel wire. Never seen brass wire coat hangars. Steel wire is welding, brass is brazing.

You are correct so I mis-spoke. I use steel hangar wire as the brass ones are harder to find so technically I'm welding using an O/A torch.

 

[ovrszd]

My Grandson is taking a Vo Tech Welding class in his Junior year of High School. I was very pleased to learn the other day that they are teaching him all aspects including TIG, Brazing and O/A welding. He's eating it up. Wants to go professional as a career. He's sure got a steady hand!!!!

 

[Stimw]

I love to braze and O/A weld!
Both will handle jobs that are much harder otherwise.
Been doing both since the 60's in high school.
Don't know if I have ever used store bought O/A steel rods. ???
Coat hangers rule!

 

[rScotty]

Some coat hangers work ok and I have tried them for welding but. Steel, Brass, SIB, 4130 etc. Just do a nicer job. Some of the old hangers work better than the new stuff. Clean with a scotch-brite 1st though. I like the old 14FC nickel silver coated rods. You can braze overhead with them.

I like that #14 nickle bronze rod too. Sometimes it was called nickle silver but I don't believe there's any silver in it. It works almost exactly like regular brass brazing rod except like you say it has a higher surface tension as it melts. That's useful for doing free-hand work with the torch because a guy can wiggle the puddle into shapes as it melts. There used to be a whole world of non-ferrous rods available for oddball oxy/acetylene welding and brazing - but not so much anymore.

Here's a couple of examples of torch work along with a torch tip I made for doing fine work. The belt buckle's outer ring is regular low fuming brass or bronze rod wound around a piece of water pipe, brazed into a ring, and beaten into an oval over the horn of an anvil. The silver colored metal used for the inner design is that #14 nickel silver you mentioned.
The belt in the picture is 1 1/4" wide, so that buckle is about 1 1/2" tall overall.
enjoy,
rScotty

 

[Bigb56]

I have used TIG brazing for cast using Alum-bronze rod. I liked it, very controllable..

Hi Dave, can you tell me which Alum-Bronz rod you are using, I see there are a couple different ones. Do you pre/post heat on the cast? DC NEG? What tungsten? I was in on the big brazing thread over at WW before the crash and I've been carrying on with my experimenting with pre-fluxed and bare bronze with O/A. With WW down I've been lurking and joined tonight. I also ordered some Bernzomatic NS-3 to try, and yesterday I received some EZ Weld Tig Wire for cast, have you tried them?

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

Hi Dave, can you tell me which Alum-Bronz rod you are using, I see there are a couple different ones. Do you pre/post heat on the cast? DC NEG? What tungsten? I was in on the big brazing thread over at WW before the crash and I've been carrying on with my experimenting with pre-fluxed and bare bronze with O/A. With WW down I've been lurking and joined tonight. I also ordered some Bernzomatic NS-3 to try, and yesterday I received some EZ Weld Tig Wire for cast, have you tried them?

I used the uncoated A2 version as it was rated for joining. I preheated a little, welded on AC with the balance mostly to negative.

I basically just followed what Jody on weldingtipsandtricks posted in his video on the subject.

 

[Bigb56]

I used the uncoated A2 version as it was rated for joining. I preheated a little, welded on AC with the balance mostly to negative.

I basically just followed what Jody on weldingtipsandtricks posted in his video on the subject.

OK thanks. I only have a DC machine.

 

[MinnesotaDaveChalmers]

OK thanks. I only have a DC machine.

DC- works too. The pretty gold color is just a little dull instead when you get done.

AC works a little better.

During the 3rd minute: Tig Brazing vs Tig Welding - YouTube

 

[Stimw]

From the use what you got corner-
Saw a How it's made where a Swiss guy was making a very large decorative cow bell and he used a spent brass rifle cartridge for the brass filler!