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Framebuilders - Protecting chrome from heat/flame of brazing

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Kommisar89

01-10-10, 03:50 PM

Hi All...quick question about protecting chrome from the heat/flame of brazing. I have a frame with chrome lugs. I'd like to have some cable guides and pump pegs brazed on the top tube. They would be about 2-3 inches from the lug and I am wondering whether there is danger of damaging the chrome with the heat/flame of the brazing torch and how one might want to go about preventing that. Not that I would be doing the brazing myself and I will certainly discuss this with my frame builder before getting the work done but I'd like to get some opinions first so that I can have an informed discussion with him. Thanks for your opinions.

jmichaeldesign

01-10-10, 10:15 PM

I'm not an expert by any means, but I was brazing some lowrider mounts onto a partially chromed fork earlier today. The chome is fine and it was only about an inch from the braze on. This was with brass, if your framebuilder uses silver it would reduce the amount of heat needed and it would definitely be fine.

CrimsonKarter21

01-10-10, 10:20 PM

I'm not a framebuilder, but in vocational school, I had a lot of first hand experience with MIG welding. While not the same thing, we learned that to help combat heat warping and/or hate raching places where you don't want it was to soak a paper towel in cold water, wring it out, and wrap it around the point where you don't want the heat to be. Some heat still gets in, but it definetely helps.

IIRC, there was a product that was slightly more sophisticated, but it cost more money than a towel and water and the benefit was marginal.

unterhausen

01-11-10, 12:32 AM

I hope the framebuilder knows to remove the chrome from where he brazes. It's dangerous stuff.

PaPa

01-11-10, 08:02 AM

www.muggyweld.com

Also, someone suggested drywall mud, but I've not tried it yet.

jmichaeldesign

01-11-10, 10:21 PM

Who are you looking at having do the work. I'm also in Colorado Springs. I recommend Brian Crolley, crolleyframes.com

David Cheakas

01-12-10, 03:43 PM

This is a very easy thing to do, and when properly done has little to no chance of damaging the chrome. It's best to just put your faith in the framebuilder. If you can't do that, find another framebuilder.

David Cheakas
www.SouthwestFrameworks.com