Thread: Custom Stem
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Old 08-18-24 | 07:38 PM
  #23  
duanedr
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From: Seattle
Originally Posted by unterhausen
How did you notice it?
Thanks.

The clamp cracked almost immediately upon cooling. I had heard of someone having a hard time with KVA or 953 or some other stainless tubing and had the same problem - cracked when it cooled.

I had a few things working against me:
  • I used pretty thick material for the extension since stainless is a bit weaker than 4130
    • It took more heat than stainless likes apparently to get filler to really soak into the joint
    • the flux didn't burn and it flowed fine and I got a nice inner fillet
    • there is a suggestion that even heating of the whole part might have prevented it.
  • nickel silver melts a bit higher temp even than brass
    • After it happened, I read up a little and it mentions copper/zinc fillers don't get along with stainless. I assumed it was something about the filler getting into the grain structure of the stainless or something.
    • The more I read, I think they just take higher temps to melt and stainless doesn't like that; there are suggestions to anneal the tube before brazing but then strength goes way down so, I'm not sure if that's the solution.
  • thermal expansion/contraction rates are different for the filler and stainless steel which adds stress
  • The clamp had already been through one heat cycle to attach the bosses with 56%.
I think the combination caused the clamp part to crack. The clamp had already been through one heat cycle to attach the bosses with 56%. I think if I had just used Fillet Pro, It would have been fine.

I may see if I can make it work now that there isn't a time crunch. Having 2 extensions would be handy.

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