Utility Cycling - Any Tips on Brazing?

I have used the search, want to build up a trailer for grocery runs, but am curious about the need for brazing. I don't want to buy a full out welding torch, was curious if it would work with the hand-held ones you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot. Anyone have any sites or advice that would help?

Check out the frame builder section lot's of good info

Did not even think of that for some reason. Thanks.

You may also wish to look at http://frameforum.org

I may be mistaken, but I don't think you can actually braze with the cheap propane torches, if that's what you mean.

If the amount of work is minimal, you might check at a local muffler shop and see what they'd charge to weld or braze it.

To be specific I was wanting to build one of these:

http://bikecart.pedalpeople.com/

I might have to take it to a muffler repair shop, although I am finding a lot of torches used on CL, maybe I do want to go buy one, think of all the fun projects I could do then.

There is a chain with stores locally, Northern Tool, that sells some little acetylene kits for not too much. I don't know about the quality or how long the little cylinders last or how much they cost. But it would be handy for cutting and for brazing.

We have those too, I might check it out. Although I am finding entire large kits on CL for under $150. I just need to decide if I will do more than just make a trailer out of it.

http://www.phred.org/~josh/build/brazing.html

You can get a map gas torch with oxigen from lowes that is hot enough to braze with. You will use a lot of oxigen though, and if you are using thick tubing will take awhile to heat up. I brazed cantilever brake bosses on my klunker Schwinn with this setup.

You can get a map gas torch with oxigen from lowes that is hot enough to braze with. You will use a lot of oxigen though, and if you are using thick tubing will take awhile to heat up. I brazed cantilever brake bosses on my klunker Schwinn with this setup.

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=98894-000000717-OX2550&lpage=none

That would be the lowes MAPP/Oxy setup. I've tried brazing with a regular MAPP torch, which would be the hottest thing not using oxygen, and it's a major pain. So I'd say that that kit would be the minimum.

If you can get an oxy/acetylene rig used, that'll be much cheaper in the long run. Those little cylinders are 8 bucks a pop, and that's about what I pay to fill up a 36"tall cylinder. I'm pretty sure it holds 100 times as much oxygen, not sure about the fuel cylinders, but they've gotta hold at least 10 times as much.

MAPP gas alone will work on thinwall EMT conduit (which is what's spec'd in those plans). You can get a pushbutton ignite torch and the MAPP gas canisters at Lowes or the Depot.

I MIG welded mine only because I have a MIG welder.

maybe I do want to go buy one, think of all the fun projects I could do then.

THIS!

I can't believe I waited 22 years to buy a welder. I love mine and I use it all the time for little projects around the house. Just tonight I was welding the subframe assembly for a new bike trailer.

Buy a welder, you won't regret it.

THIS!

I can't believe I waited 22 years to buy a welder. I love mine and I use it all the time for little projects around the house. Just tonight I was welding the subframe assembly for a new bike trailer.

Buy a welder, you won't regret it.

Ok, this is not helping at all. I am struggeling almost ewery week to resist buying a welder. I used to weld when younger, and sooo often see where I could use one now. Trying to resist and reduce number of projects, number of bikes and trailer projects. My mantra is "epoxy is good, epoxy is good.." and then this...:D:D

"Must be strong, must be strong.."

Ok, this is not helping at all. I am struggeling almost ewery week to resist buying a welder.

Just do it! :thumb: A welder is one of those tools that, admittedly, you may not need every day but when you need it there is no other tool that will do the job. And you can pick up a 115V gasless wirefeed welder for <$300 that should be more than capable of any "around the house" kind of chores you might need to do. You can pick up a stick welder or buy used for 1/2 that.

I've built wood-based bike trailers in the past but I can honestly say that I prefer metal. I'm not a patient guy and I find that molten steel cools a lot faster than wood glue dries. :D

Now if I could just trade up my little abrasive cut off wheel for a full sized metal-cutting bandsaw I'd be a happy camper!

______________________________________

115V Wire Feed Welder - - - $285
2 angle grinders - - - $25 each
Auto-darkening helmet - - - $50
Ability to overcome the risk of slag burns, electic shock, sunburn, irreversible blindness, and harmful smoke inhalation to stick metal stuff together in the privacy of your garage - - - $Priceless.

There truely are some things that money can't buy.

I would recommend a gas shielded MIG machine, spend the extra $. Well worth it.

Fluxcore is annoying.

I signed up for some welding classes at the local Community College, Will do that and go from there. Thanks again for all the advice.

Awesome, that's where I learned, gotta love community colleges!

I would recommend a gas shielded MIG machine, spend the extra $. Well worth it.

Fluxcore is annoying.

I keep meaning to try gas. My welder came with a regulator but I spent so much buying the welder, mask, gloves, grinders, chop saw, etc. that I didn't have funds for a bottle. One day.... one day...

Either try to score a used one, or get a little $60 cylinder that you can carry by bike to get filled. MIG is so much nicer than flux core. Better control, less messy, no slag to clean off before you paint. :)