Brazing

[Cyclone]

From another thread it looks like I need to braze steel or brass alooy rod together.
Ive used an acetlyene torch before but a long time ago (my Dads but hes on holiday so cant ask him).

So, what do I need (recommend) for a cheap brazing setup.
Im assuming a butane torch (butane has another use I believe...)
some brazing rod and flux.
Dont want to spend too much as infrequent use but not just a one off.

ta

 

[Gizzy]

Never done brazing, however it is similar to soldering but using higher temperatures.

Here's the science....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazing

 

[bobg]

You will get away with a pencil torch IF you get the conditions right, and build a small hearth with some fire brick. You will be impressed with how much extra heat you suddenly find. Almost any small blow-lamp will do, I've even used one of those Camping Gaz ones in the past. Flux can be obtained in very small quantitis from an M.E. supplier, as can silver solder (not cheap) which is what you really want rather than brazing rods.

 

[Cyclone]

Cheers guys, I look for some silver solder, rather than brazing, hopefully cheaper to get a cheap torch and solder than expensive torch and brazing rod.

(might just use glue instead but playing with fire is always more fun)

 

[minimans]

Brazing is much like soldering in many ways being more akin to gluing the materials rather than melting and combing the materials together like welding, it also suffers from the same problems as soldering, if not done correctly it may appear to be a good job but then fails shortly thereafter! (Dry joint) it does take practice to do it properly and an Oxy/acetylene rig is really the only way to go really, anything smaller will take to long to heat the materials and by the time it has the fluxer on the brazing rod will be burnt away. But if done correctly it makes a very good strong joint. In fact racing car suspension always used to be brazed even F1 cars because the heat is lower it doesn't change the properties of the chrome moly tube used in the 'Old Days' now of course there all glued together!!
GT40 Nickel brazed chrome Moly upper suspension arm

 

[bobg]

Brazing is much like soldering in many ways being more akin to gluing the materials rather than melting and combing the materials together like welding, it also suffers from the same problems as soldering, if not done correctly it may appear to be a good job but then fails shortly thereafter! (Dry joint) it does take practice to do it properly and an Oxy/acetylene rig is really the only way to go really, anything smaller will take to long to heat the materials and by the time it has the fluxer on the brazing rod will be burnt away. But if done correctly it makes a very good strong joint. In fact racing car suspension always used to be brazed even F1 cars because the heat is lower it doesn't change the properties of the chrome moly tube used in the 'Old Days' now of course there all glued together!!
GT40 Nickel brazed chrome Moly upper suspension arm

Yeah Paul, 'tis for big stuff, but small fittings for our size, a blowlamp is fine especially if you build a firebrick hearth round it. the reflected heat works wonders. Always make your flux into a paste (with water) and apply to the job before the heat, and some on the filler rod as well.

 

[bobg]

Depending on what it's for - probably, or even mostly.