Bikeforums.net is a forum about nothing but bikes. Our community can help you find information about hard-to-find and localized information like bicycle tours, specialties like where in your area to have your recumbent bike serviced, or what are the best bicycle tires and seats for the activities you use your bike for.
mat_lynch
05-22-06, 12:07 PM
I'm looking to silver braze my 1st steel frame.
I'm looking for small setup and price is a factor.
what's best? pros v cons?
oxy-acet?
acet?
propane?
oxy-propane?
Price is always a factor, so it is worth asking yourself how long you want this thing for, is it just for one frame building experience or are you building the capabilities of your shop. People are getting by with Mapp hardware stuff, or you can get real bottles and one of the purpose built OA torches. I like the Mecco Midget, others seem to prefer other torches, if you look at the various suppliers you can have your choice. You may also want to consider secondary qualities of the gear you get, like welding aluminum vs. as a cutting torch. A lot of the basic torch kits you see sold by folks other than aircraft and bike suppliers is sold to cut up plate and weld plate, generally we want slightly more agile gear.
The whole brazing thing starts to fall into various commercial claims and counter claims. The stuff seems to fall into four categories:
1) Stuff you really shouldn't try to use: too high temp, or low %/strength silvers;
2) stuff that works but is a little hot for some uses, or hard to control, may include some stuff from local welding suppliers, useful to know about because it is local and cheap, but you might need a variety of products for different components and your finishing might be quite difficult.
3) The good stuff, probably comes from frame part suppliers, I don't know, the Henry James rod and fluxes?
4) The really good stuff, almost brazes itself. Product of various skunkworks type development program. Might be expensive. Everyone who tries it has a life changing experience.
Since I weld most stuff, I don't really know whose products fits into which categories, and everyone else probably disagrees with the categories. I do blaze components in gas burners, but I don't know what the various cycling products are like.
Get in touch with Freddy Parr at www.cycledesign.org He'll set you up with a proper Smiths outfit at a price that's fair. He'lll also explain the diffrerences between Oxy/Acet and Oxy/Propane. For brazing, especially silver, you really want the later. And, he has the best silver fillers and fluxs around. His brass fillers and fluxs are good too. Finally, he has a lot of building knowledge to share.