Welding Brass and Bronze

admin

I'm wondering if I can use a slilcon bronze rod to tig  bronze and brass together?  I have a piece for a weather vane that tends to unthread as the weathervane turns.  I want to thread it in and weld it so it won't unscrew.  I believe it is a bronze threaded rod into a brass cap.  I struck an arc on it and wasn't totally satisfied, but I didn't have a filler metal to add at the time.  Before I screw it up thought I would ask if it is possible.  thanks, Nick.
Reply:I know it's a welding forum but why not just use some Loctite threadlocking compound? They have several strengths including permanent. Little dab'll do ya!Latest Toys Miller 180 Mig and Elite Mask!!Wright Welder 225ACShop OutFitters 20/20 Bending SystemHypertherm 380 Plasma30 Years of Sparking (Electrical & Welding)
Reply:IMO, it is much better to braze it. You can with a TIG but you'd have to turn it WAY WAY down.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by WolfmanJack13I know it's a welding forum but why not just use some Loctite threadlocking compound? They have several strengths including permanent. Little dab'll do ya!
Reply:I was able to get both metals to pool when I tried earlier, although the brass seemed to pool better.  I don't have a problem with going way low on the heat.  Machine can do it, the rest is up to me.
Reply:Don't heat it until it pools, heat it until it glows and braze it.  You can use a TIG torch as a heat source.Last edited by 76GMC1500; 06-04-2007 at 07:10 PM.
Reply:So should I try plumbing solder or go with true silver solder or non of the above?
Reply:Does appearance count or is it high enough that nobody will really know how it is held together?Favorite right now is a Miller Syncro 200.Tons of tools and I blame at least one of them when things don't go right.
Reply:Aluminum Bronze filler.. But its hard to find..Tig A.C. like alumnium.. ...zap!Last edited by zapster; 06-04-2007 at 09:50 PM.I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Appearance is not a problem.  It is high up.  there is no way I want to track down the aluminum bronze filler.  Explain to me why I shouldn't tig it, but braze it.  Will the tigging with silicon bronze rod not work?  Just trying to get the damn thing back on the roof asap.
Reply:Originally Posted by Nick Kentthere is no way I want to track down the aluminum bronze filler.
Reply:I"m not getting paid for this one.  Just trying to get the boat back on the roof.  I will give it a shot with solder.  Fun.
Reply:Sometimes simple solutions are good.Of course goes without saying clean it shiny bright and flux it for soldering.Post pics when you're done.  Sounds like a cool weather vane.Favorite right now is a Miller Syncro 200.Tons of tools and I blame at least one of them when things don't go right.
Reply:Why should you braze it and not weld it?  There are lots of reasons.  You're joining dissimilar metals.  Some materials are just hard or impossible to weld.  You have a brazing filler already.  It might be a good learning experience to try TIG brazing for the first time?
Reply:you need to be aware that brass (copper alloyed with zinc) and bronzed (copper alloyed with zinc and tin) both contain zinc. You need to keep your heat input low to prevent vaporization of the zinc (906*C 1663*F). Tig is the preferred method when welding copper alloys. When using tig trying keeping the arc directed on the weld puddle or filler to keep heat input down. Phosphor Bronze (ERCuSn-A) or aluminum bronze (ERCuAl) are used for alloys containing high zinc. Silicon bronze could also be used. I think someone mentioned AC is to be used and also it is very important to preclean prior to welding
Reply:I have tigged with silicon bronze a lot of stuff like this, and it usually works fine.The problem is, "brass" and "bronze" are meaningless terms- there are actually hundreds of alloys, all different. The nastiest to work with are the leaded brasses, which really dont like to get hot. But the amount of zinc in the alloy can certainly screw things up too.I would do like Zap says, use ac with high freq, and start at a low amp setting. Use a small silly bronze filler rod, and remember that when using bronze filler rod, its all brazing. Which basically means try not to get the base metal too hot. should work fine.
Reply:I would braze it.  Even with really low TIG amp settings, it's easy to damage threads.  If damaging threads isn't an issue, then let her rip with the SB rod.