A Brazing Question
 

So this is a non bike brazing question! My setup is oxy/propane and I have an upcoming project of fabricating a chimney flue rain cap that will cover 3 flues. My idea is to use 3/16"x 1.5" SS bar stock to fabricate a structure. Will my brazing setup be up to the task? Is the Gasflux Flux that I use for frames appropriate?
Look forward to your assistance!
Thanks!

Tom - Ya know ya been looking at that little Arc Welder for years...

I have been "thinking " about a welder but not an arc . I have been thinking about a TIG. But would. Ike to know if my brazing setup would do the job.

Should be fine for SS with proper filler rod & flux choices. TIG, for someone relatively new to welding, has a fairly steep learning curve. So unless you have ideas about making welding some kind of side gig on difficult-to-weld metals, I'd use what I have at hand for the project described were I the one wearing your gloves.

(I'm curious why you've opted for 3/16" SS over 1/8"? For a frame that'll be covered with some other material for weather protection, 1/8" ought to be adequate as well as making for a lighter assembly when it comes time to mount it.)

TIG does have a learning curve but I still think it's a good choice for a hobbyist (especially if you make bike frames). The problem with arc welding is it's only really suitable for thicker material. If you need material that thick then you're probably making something safety-critical, which usually isn't a good idea for a beginner, or you're making garden furniture and will end up spending more on unnecessary metal than you save on the welder.

MIG is easy, and can do thinner materials, but not bike frame thin. However this is a good choice if you also have car bodywork projects coming up. TIG can be used for that too but it's harder.

TiG is the only process that can really do everything, and works with all thicknesses from 0.5mm upwards.

Our flue is a weird shape and the cover fell apart so I wanted to rebuild. I was thinking about going with 1/8" angle iron verticals and brazing them to the top. I'm pretty sure it would outlast me. I haven't done it because it just seemed like it wouldn't be any fun. 3/16" stainless would be really annoying to braze with my oxy/acetylene setup, and if you don't have nickel silver, it would be expensive. I don't know how much heat your torch provides, so it's difficult to say.

My wife doesn't want me to buy a TIG welder because I might make something, so I was going to join the local maker space and use theirs.

" so I was going to join the local maker space and use theirs. " Eric

Our local maker effort can't have many of the chemicals and tools that frames need to be produced. No painting, no torches or welding. Building insurance and city regs combine to be too expensive to overcome, according to one of the maker space honchos.

This was really too bad as when I moved back here, I was all gung ho about teaching and sharing frame making. Between the limitations of that space and the attitude of a few younger guys there, who might have been people to share with, and I moved on and back to my solo stuff.

Still think about a community frame shop, guess we all have to have a dream:) Andy

The local makerspace does have welders, no gas though. I think it's too small for classes. It's amazing what they have packed in there.