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This week brought the need for a quick field repair of a portable oil fired water heater. Relax, not a high pressure vessel.I think it froze, splitting the tank. There's a brand new one ready to install, but I thought why not try a quick fix, this one could run for years yet. As I was about to start, Keith, a helper/tourist asked "you want me to braze that for you?"I thought maybe he was joking and I said "sure", handed him the torch, and got the camera ready! I made no comment while he lit the torch and brazed it; just watched and took the pictures. I think he did well, especially with a camera stuck in front of his face!Attachment 21858He tinned it first:Attachment 21859Then worked slowly to bridge the gap:Attachment 21862Finished bead:Attachment 21860I asked him where he learned to braze. Said he used to work in an auto body shop, and had brazed a lot of replacement panels on cars.Here's what it looks like finished:Attachment 21861So far so good, makes hot water.The heater model? M-80 of course. I'm serious! Last edited by denrep; 10-19-2010 at 11:33 PM.
Reply:By golly he did do gooder. Give the man a bonus.
Reply:As usual, great macro photography. And another myth buster for me. I was under the impression that if I held the flame directly on the filler, it would scorch the flux and ruin it; preventing any further proper flowing to the puddle.Vertical to boot.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 07-14-2008 at 01:17 AM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:I take it you generally do more cutting than brazing, hence the torch used.
Reply:Originally Posted by Oldiron2I take it you generally do more cutting than brazing, hence the torch used.
Reply:I was laughing about the M-80 as well. While I don't really condone the practice I have brazed and welded using my cutting head. I only use propane for the weed burner. I have brazed large castings with a number 15 rosebud and 1/4 inch rods and was really wishing I had someone to run another rosebud for me.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.
Reply:Nice job.I have never noticed a problem with burning the flux off the rods...Me!
Reply:Was a time when we used to braze all sorts of broken parts, cracked vee belt pulleys and various cast iron parts that got broken whilst being removed. Now it seems that the throw away culture pervails, pity as it's a skill that is dying. We were not teaching it to apprentices when I first started at the Tech. where I teach, this was mainly due to too much interference from industry in what was being taught. I reintroduced it as I don't like any skill disappearing and also as I resent the big mining companies sticking their nose in.Clive
Reply:Just out of curiosity and apart from the obvious, why do you have a "portable oil fired water heater"?And I agree with Clive, not as much brazing as there used to be. We used to braze up all sorts of things, particularly cast iron things including the end bells of electric motors and mounting feet. Also the steel rails in abattoirs where the beasts are slid along. Although it was a union shop and we were only supposed to work with 1/16th to 1/8th" plate, thinner was for sheetmetal workers and thicker for boilermakers. We only had arc welders, no migs and Tig was for the sheetmetal guys to do stainless or ali with. Brazing was also a good alternative where it was felt that an arc weld might fail, for example in a thinner section with vibration. Also coated brazing rods weren't available and it was a powder flux that you dipped the hot rod into."One of the things we have to be thankful for is that we don't get as much government as we pay for." (Charles Kettering)Mitch 180 (NZ)Lincoln SAM-400-220 + ?-400 Fordson Major + 2 x Tractapac Humber 80 + Procut 40 PlasmaMiller Spectrum 375 |
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发表于 2021-9-1 00:17:47