Welding rods together???

admin

Hello All,My wife was using 1/16 inch (for mild steel they are labeled TIG rods ) welding rods for a craft project.They needed to be joined (but joint ) after bent.  Every time I try to weld them the joint is brittle and cracks immediately.  I’m using a Meco Aviator Jet oxy/acet torch. I’ve tried the 00 size tip and the number 1 with the same results.  What am I doing wrong?????
Reply:wish i could help more are they copper coated rods  ?
Reply:yes they are copper coated, but I cleaned them with a file and used acetone afterward
Reply:You might be better off brazing them rather than trying to weld.
Reply:Yes, Rich you are correct. I settled on some nice silver solder.Since this is a static display (doesn’t have any motors) and will just be hanging the silver solder is strong enough. The rods come together at about a 60 degree angle, I put a little extra solder to make a fillet and it looks fine. Thanks for your responses.  Hope all had a good holiday…..
Reply:Brazing/silver solder has an enormous strength when applied properly. Much greater than many people think. All sorts of critical assembly's were brazed/silver soldered in the past, though that's not as common today as it was years ago with the ease of availability of electric welders today.I'd have to dig a bit to verify my numbers since it's been a few years since I looked them up, but IIRC a properly brazed/silver solders joint should reach 30-36K psi strength almost as strong as normal A 36 steel..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Thanks DSW ! 30 to 60K psi strength will be more than enough for a hanging star.  Silver solder has always been one of my favorites for small stuff.  A "micro-Tig" would have probably worked as well......
Reply:Not sure if you have seen some of the stuff in this thread lately or not.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=192211.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Try it using RG45 filler instead of ER70S-2 (TIG) filler. The RG45 is for gas welding. There is a difference.
Reply:Originally Posted by millratTry it using RG45 filler instead of ER70S-2 (TIG) filler. The RG45 is for gas welding. There is a difference.
Reply:Thanks Guys,Once again I’m impressed and grateful for all the help you are willing to provide.So much information and so little time…I knew there had to be a difference between rods. These aren’t stamped (usually there is a flat portion of the rod with the identifier on it) with any information.  I have the box from the store.In any case the job is done.  The silver solder worked very well.  These wire forms will be hidden.  I might try to post a picture of the finished product, but it will be a while, as they are covered in fabric and the sewing is her job.  I did try sneaking up on the puddle with the smallest flame the torch could produce.It was in the cooling where something was going wrong.  I could weld the rods together but they were extremely brittle after welding.  The slightest bend and they snapped.  After silver soldering I could bend the form at the joint with no problem.  There is some metallurgy  that is beyond me with this one.Even though the job is done, I’d still like to know what was causing that to happen.  Before turning to the silver solder I made small gusset “plates” out of some “body metal” (auto repair).  The interesting thing is that the rods bonded with the body metal and gave a strong joint.  But I had to make 60 of these things and didn’t want to add extra work to the project.