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Advice on BRAZING - Not welding!

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:13 pm
Author: Pigford
I need a couple of lugs fitted to my Harris frame.

As its Reynolds 531 and all brazed construction, they ideally need to be brazed on.


Whats the score with brazing - pro's & cons, easy/difficult, etc... :??

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:17 pm
Author: kas750
Easy if you have the right equipment.Its essentially high temperature soldering and as such perfectly clean surfaces,correct temperature ,and a quality flux are a must.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:24 pm
Author: kev edwards
As Kas says, right solder needed as silver solder comes in various grades correct flux, parts also need to be a very close fit as silver solder has poor gap filling qualities.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:29 pm
Author: Pigford
kev edwards wrote:As Kas says, right solder needed as silver solder comes in various grades correct flux, parts also need to be a very close fit as silver solder has poor gap filling qualities.


So - brazing uses "silver solder" - is it 'one & the same' thing then :?:

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:31 pm
Author: turbokwaka259
not a lot of people specalise in gas brazing now days, it will be a lot easier using a tig welder to braze bits to the frame thats what my local bike builder always recomends, the tig will have to be a AC welder, always try to pre-heat the bits of metal you are going to be joining + the metal will need to be spotlessly clean any paint/powdercoat get it all off, if your going to the old fasion way with a gas torch you would need acetylene and oxygen, i tryed brazing with propane and it does not burn hot enough. let me know how you get on because i need a bit of work to my harris frame :wink:
brazing is not the hardest metal joining to do but its specalist eg the equipment needed with the correct equipment and a bit of practice anything is possible.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:33 pm
Author: kas750
Pigford wrote:
kev edwards wrote:As Kas says, right solder needed as silver solder comes in various grades correct flux, parts also need to be a very close fit as silver solder has poor gap filling qualities.


So - brazing uses "silver solder" - is it 'one & the same' thing then :?:

Silver or Bronze..I presume you will need bronze as that was what bike frames traditionally used.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:36 pm
Author: steve.w
if ud been closer mate i would have sorted it brazing steel is a piece of piss now brazing brass is a bit more tricky :wink:

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:36 pm
Author: turbokwaka259
my mistake if your TIG brazing you use DC on your welder and a silicon bronze filler no flux etc as the argon gas sheilds the weld im getting my wires crossed :oops:

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:39 pm
Author: kev edwards
Pigford wrote:
kev edwards wrote:As Kas says, right solder needed as silver solder comes in various grades correct flux, parts also need to be a very close fit as silver solder has poor gap filling qualities.


So - brazing uses "silver solder" - is it 'one & the same' thing then :?:


yes, but as turbo 259 says you need lots of heat and highly cleaned close fitting surfaces and tig may be better if the lugs are going to be exsposed to high load, silver/bronze solders are available for different applications, so you may be best off taking it to a specialist unless you know someone already, done a bit my self but only small stuff on tin work.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:42 pm
Author: z1bman
this bit of kit is good +probably the cheapest option if you want to do the job yourself

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rothenberger- ... 683wt_1270

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:43 pm
Author: Pigford
Cheers for the advice chaps - clear as mud to me :|

As mentioned the frames were done with brass stuff - so wanna keep it the same :wink:

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:58 pm
Author: kev edwards
Pigford wrote:Cheers for the advice chaps - clear as mud to me :|

As mentioned the frames were done with brass stuff - so wanna keep it the same :wink:

Get one of those mapp gas torches they do produce enough heat in small ares, make the lugs buy the solder and flux from flea bay, look up on the web on how to do it and give it go, what can go wrong, if i lived down your way i would do it for you.

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:00 pm
Author: Pigford
Cheers Kev........ May well investigate this further :P be good to learn a new skill :wink:

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:04 pm
Author: hillbilly
mark,you pay the postage both ways,and ile send my oxy/acet kit down for you. :wink:

Posted: Tue Nov 15, 2011 9:05 pm
Author: Pigford