Framebuilders - Lead-free brazing?

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jonwvara
12-06-06, 07:53 AM
I'm looking to have a mid-80s Nishiki frame plated with electroless nickel. The guy at the plating shop said he could do the job, but wanted me to assure him that the brazing matrial used in the frame doesn't contain any lead, which he said would contaminate his plating bath. I told him I thought it didn't contain lead, but I didn't really know what the hell I was talking about. Are brazed, lugged frames assembled with lead-free brazing material? Anyone out there know?
Jon

DannoXYZ
12-06-06, 08:38 AM
No lead, it's brass... or silver... If he's doing nickel, he should be laying down copper first anyway.
NoReg
12-06-06, 01:12 PM
I agree with the above, the thing that seemed to be feared was cadmium in silver solder. I don't know about trace elements.

I own a nishiki, and it was Tig welded, I don't know if it is brazed at all.

jonwvara
12-06-06, 04:57 PM
Well, electoless nickel isn't the same as a bright nickel, which is polished. Electroless nickel is more an industrial finish--it's the same texture as the steel under it, not bright and polished. My understanding is that it's usually applied directly to the steel, without the copper plating that's the first step in a "triple chrome" job, where copper goes on first, then nickel, then the chrome
Jon