Fusing metal, not steel or aluminum...advice?

[wildrover]

I weld...MIG, hobby, not too shabby...but I've never worked with any other metal.

How would one normally fuse together the parts of a cantle, and what would you make it from? Brass, bronze? If it's brass, can I...weld it? Sweat it together? TIG?

Help a guy out...TIA!

-Sean

(ok, I fat-fingered "aluminum"...can anyone fix the thread title for me?)

[artificer]

You might want to check THIS thread, as we're discussing brass cantles and their construction.

[Ryan Ross]

Aye... and Mark(tyger) can tell you all you need to know, I expect.

[Farlander]

Brass can be welded and/or brazed. Typically though you will need a torch (like oxy-acetylene) not arc like MIG, TIG or stick.

[wildrover]

O/A...got it. Would a small torch suffice? There's a limit to how much explosive stuff I want in my garage...what with two welding bottles, a nitrogen bottle, a truck, and immeasurable crap in there anyway...

Artificer, I took a look at the other thread...those are some beautiful sporrans! When you guys say "braze" or "weld"...well...I suppose I should get to searching the web, but is there a specific difference between those terms in this case, or are you using them as synonyms in that thread (not as Farlander just used them, I mean specifically in the linked thread above).

Maybe a better question, rather than muddying the waters, would be...are cantles more commonly brazed, or welded?

[Bugbear]

* Never mind.

[TBruce]

In my experience, I'd say silver solder. It’s what I’ve always used on brass, copper, and other odd ball metals that can’t really be welded. Just my 2 cents….

Sea Bees Can Do

[wildrover]

In my experience, I'd say silver solder. It’s what I’ve always used on brass, copper, and other odd ball metals that can’t really be welded. Just my 2 cents….

Sea Bees Can Do

Got it, and I think I know somebody I can ask a little more specifically, now.

What makes brass and copper so awkward?

[Farlander]

Brazing and welding are very different processes. Welding is a process where two similar metals are actually melted together. It is possible to do that with brass (I have done it), but not typical or practical and really does not work well.

More typical (as stated in the other thread) is to 'solder'. I consider soldering and brazing the same process, but technically soldering uses a filler metal that melts at less than 800F. At above 800F, it is brazing. It is interesting to note that by this definition, 'silver solder' is actually a brazing process. Go figure?

So, TBruce is quite correct, you want to braze using silver solder. What does one need to do this? A small oxy-acetylene torch rig is best, but it can even be done with something as simple as a propane torch.

One last option, as mentioned in the other thread, is to 'cast'.

[Farlander]

...What makes brass and copper so awkward?

Ah' good question. They melt at too low of a temperature for arc and oxidize or corrode to badly for torch. To get a successful weld you need to gently melt the metal in an environment without oxygen.