What do you use for Brazing and Silver Soldering

[ron]

Hi All
I used to have a neat oxy/propane [or MAPP] kit made by Bernzomatic, that I used for brazing, mainly automotive jobs but it was also handy for model engineering as well. It used disposable cylinders that used to be available in Halfords and B&Q until EEC regulations stopped them selling the oxygen cylinders.
I can silver solder small things OK with a propane torch but I can't get enough heat to braze, what do others use, I don't do enough brazing to justify buying an oxy/acetyline kit and renting bottles from BOC.
Ron

[3405jimmy]

I use me mate he’s a welder so has access to nice big bottles and torches.

Jim

[steamjohn248]

depends how big the job is. I've got Oxy/acetaleyne but I use the standard 'MAP' gas torch as sold in any plumbers/builders merchants, Peizo ignition, disposable cylinders one handed operaration for most silver soldering.and small brazing jobs Plenty of heat and not dear to run.

[jackbaynes]

Hi Ron, I had the same problem with achieving enough heat for silver soldering/brazing largish items until I spotted laying around in the green house a flame gun as used for clearing weeds etc. It comprised a tank about 6" dia by 9" long with a pump and pressure gauge for the parafin and a 1/2" steel tube about 16"long connected to the burner of about 3"dia and a handle across the top.With a bit of modification by way of inserting a piece of flexible tube between the tank and the steel tube and altering the handle I have a tool that is quite manoevreable and easily capable of achieving the heat required.
Maybe some would question the safety of the set-up but I have used it on the boiler I am making and have had no trouble. The only drawback is that there is so much heat that some protection is needed over the hand holding the solder, I found that cutting the solder to length, laying it along the joint and then applying heat worked fine
regards Jack

[alanstepney]

I originally used petrol and parrafin blowlamps.
Later, propane, and still later oxy-acetylene.

For the vast majority of work, including boilers, I tend to use my Sievert propane torch.
( With the cost of it, I need to get plenty of use from it !!)

[steammadman]

Yes , i too use a propane torch for all my silver soldering jobs, i've got a selection
of various sized nozles, if i can't get enough heat with one , then i change for a
.. bigger one, get plenty of fire bricks around the job to keep the heat on the job.
The fire bricks i use came from the steel works,if you have any thing similar near
you ,fondary etc, give them a call they will usually give you a few broken ones.
Or ,if (god forbid you have to pay for some), they can be obtained from good
sized builders merchants .
I also have a carbon arc torch which i use , but, you need a bit of practice
with this as it is easy to burn a hole in thin material.
The carbon arc torch , by the way is used with an electric arc welder.
If anyone would like more info on these please give me a shout.
Hope that is of help
steammadman