Originally Posted by RedSerotta
Technically, welding is stronger than brazing. The chemical and physical processes that occur are fundamentally different. Ever try to "undo" a weld? Not going to happen. But if you put a torch on a braze, the material can just ooze right off. However, excellent brazes are more than enough for most bike frames. I love to mig and tig (mostly art and cars, not bikes) so why not?
I think you're forgetting the strength
added to a brazed lugged joint by the lug itself. There is
objective evidence that brazed lug construction is stronger than TIG welded construction. While the testing at U.C. Davis was done before air hardening steel tubing like Reynolds 853 was available, the argument regarding stress risers in TIG welded joints making them more prone to failure is still valid.