Hello Fellow Bike Frame Builders, my company can help with your selection of Silver Brazing alloys and proper fluxes to use. I work for The Prince & Izant Company, please contact me with any questions or inquiries,
I am actually not a a welder - just a cyclist/videogapher.
My understanding is that even though a weld would make a stronger bond, It is stronger than the actual steel being welded and can result in a failure in the tube right next to the weld.
What is your opinion about silver fillets? Some say they are strong if done properly. Others say they suffer from micro cracking and are likely to fail?
In frames built without lugs (that's the bit that they are putting the braze between where the tubes meet) they do. But overall it's a messier joint needing a lot of time consuming filing and cleaning to make a smooth appearence. That's why big commercial framebuilders dont clean them up and why you see bikes today that have those ugly weld ripples at the joints. Also welding is hotter and I think leads to weaker joints and can also lead to distortion of the tubes. But that's just my opinion.
@MCRmechanic If you're using a welding tip, you probably want more in the range of 5 psi for both oxy and acetylene. The figures you gave might be used for cutting 1/2" + steel plate.
Hello Fellow Bike Frame Builders, my company can help with your selection of Silver Brazing alloys and proper fluxes to use. I work for The Prince & Izant Company, please contact me with any questions or inquiries,
Damon Sted 216-362-7000 Ext 227
MrTrip612 2 years ago
HI,
I am actually not a a welder - just a cyclist/videogapher.
My understanding is that even though a weld would make a stronger bond, It is stronger than the actual steel being welded and can result in a failure in the tube right next to the weld.
amadels 2 years ago
Why don't they just weld it? Or are the bike-frames made of something different than steel?
sstorholm 2 years ago
@sstorholm
Because welding melts the parent metal. Brazing doesnt.
ukdodger 2 years ago
@ukdodger
I was aware of that, but why would melting the parent metal be such a bad thing in this application?
sstorholm 2 years ago
What is your opinion about silver fillets? Some say they are strong if done properly. Others say they suffer from micro cracking and are likely to fail?
mchimonas 2 years ago
In frames built without lugs (that's the bit that they are putting the braze between where the tubes meet) they do. But overall it's a messier joint needing a lot of time consuming filing and cleaning to make a smooth appearence. That's why big commercial framebuilders dont clean them up and why you see bikes today that have those ugly weld ripples at the joints. Also welding is hotter and I think leads to weaker joints and can also lead to distortion of the tubes. But that's just my opinion.
ukdodger 2 years ago
In Europe Acetylene cylinders are a maroon colour and oxygen is white - previously black in Britain but now changed
Jagdtoq 3 years ago
interesting... i learned with 7-8 lbs. acetylene and 30 lbs. oxygen. this is also the setting I use for welding... does it make a difference?
MCRmechanic 3 years ago
@MCRmechanic If you're using a welding tip, you probably want more in the range of 5 psi for both oxy and acetylene. The figures you gave might be used for cutting 1/2" + steel plate.
Octopusbeak 1 year ago