Why use wire or stick?

[Tractor Seabee]

Brazing: There are several types. Basically it is a excellent process when (may be the only) joining dissimilar metals. Also used for the same materials like copper to copper and gold to gold when the alloys are different and application needs to be lower temp than the base materials. Some times mistakenly called solder like in "silver solder" when it slops into the lower temp materials. Also mistakenly called welding like in "bronze welding" and sometimes called "brass welding" . They are all forms of brazing just different filler metals. Look up silver solder on google; there are a myriad of alloys for a variety of reasons. The more silver the lower the application temp required and the stronger the joint is.

Bronze rod has always been my go to process for repairs to various grades of cast or malleable iron. It is almost as strong as the base material. I have even rejoined pieces like the base feet on industrial machinery. Seen a lot of it service already and never known to have one re-break. Lot less preheat required.

I have joined miles of copper piping with what's called in the trade phos-copper. It has no silver, just copper and phosphorus. The phosphorus lowers the application temp to below the melting point of copper. Joint is almost the same strength as the copper base. Used a lot in refrigeration and med gas piping except when joining to steel, brass or bronze. It leaves a heavy black oxide in the process, due to the high heat required, when oxygen is present. We purged the inside with nitrogen to prevent the oxide from contaminating the system as it is very abrasive.

Works great when joining stainless steel to other materials also, especially when arc is not available or not feasible for minor repairs.

I will leave gold and silver to the jewelers, even though I have a mini torch for that work. It comes in handy for other applications where fire is a potential problem.

Brazing 101, Ron

 

[cdaigle430]

I wish mine were pretty-maybe its not the hands but how steady your elbow and shoulder movements are?

 

[Big Barn]

Mig welds are like girlfriends. The pretty ones are nice to look at but may not last.


Okay, not exactly true, but I had to say it anyways.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

I wish mine were pretty-maybe its not the hands but how steady your elbow and shoulder movements are?

In my case age has taken its toll. My welds are still full penetration but the top is a little wavy.

Ron

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Mig welds are like girlfriends. The pretty ones are nice to look at but may not last.


Okay, not exactly true, but I had to say it anyways.

So true, I have experienced a lot of production line MIG welds that have little or no penetration but they sure look good. Butt and lap welds that have penetration only on one edge.

Ron

 

[Big Barn]

Here’s a pic of a portion of my rolling deck mount system for piggyback forklifts like on the back of Home Depot trucks.

Instead of hanging off the end of the trailer the 5500 pound forklift lift lifted itself up to deck height with this system and then drove ONTO the deck for transport. Try sitting on the forklift suspended 8 feet above the ground relying on two forks inserted into this contraption and tell me your azz doesn’t pucker.

All welds done with AC buzzbox because that was the only welder I had back then.

 

[Oldpath05]

I have 30 year old Miller Dialarc stick and 7 year mig Miller-Matic 211, I find if I'm doing a lot of welding that I have to use 5/32 7014 stick to keep up with and or go faster then .030 70s6 mig wire. Mig is great for tacking and welding thin metal, stick is better for dirty rusty steel and 250-300 DC amps is a must for carbon arc gouging AKA welding rod eraser.........

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's all about penetration! lol

 

[metalbender]

Small mig on heavy metal. A nice bead of silicone has no penetration either.

 

[Oldpath05]

25 years ago I on my small 120 volt mig welder I clamped the tongs from my 250 amp DC stick welder on the lead that goes on my mig gun, coiled up the mig ground cable so stick welder wont back feed threw the mig ground. Then I took the ground from the stick welder and grounded the job I was welding, so with 030 70s6 wire I could really get penetration and lot of footage then. The only draw back was the mig wire stayed hot so I'd have to be careful laying the mig gun down, I think I had 180 amps on the stick welder.