O/A welding questions

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I'm confused on a couple points-when should you braze vs. weld?What rod do you use for torch welding mild steel?What metals can be brazed, what rod, and how strong vs. welding?Thanks in advance for help with all the n00b questions!
Reply:Braze is more like soldering.Weld melts the base metal and mixes the filler with it.They make rod for torch welding mild steel.  ER70S-6  It comes in different sizes.  Carbon steel and cast Iron can be brazed and there are more, but welding is much stronger.David
Reply:Brazing should be used when dissimilar metals are being joined or if the base metals are unweldable.  Otherwise, welding is preffered.  There are a ton of special applications where brazing works better, though.Any of the ER70S-x fillers are for arc welding.  There are fillers formulated specifically for gas welding, RG45 and RG60 for example..  They work well for arc welding, too.  The ER70 rods wont wet out properly under the flame of a gas torch.Brazed joints can vary in strength from 45ksi with brass fillers up to 100+ ksi with special nickel based fillers.  Welded joints are typically 60-70ksi for comparison.  It used to be common practice to braze chrome moly space frames used in aircraft and cars because the added ductility of the brazed joint would reduce cracking.Last edited by 76GMC1500; 03-13-2007 at 07:59 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RCarbon steel and cast Iron can be brazed and there are more, but welding is much stronger.David
Reply:Brazing is stronger (or can be)in the shear direction I believe.  It does this by mixing with the base metal and wicking into the grain.  Its not good for butt joints.  Good for lap joints.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Doolittle, that is exactly what I was taught by an old hand. He has since passed on. How I wish in my youth I had taken the same level of interest in what he showed me as he did teaching it, or showing it to me....   I saw him do things with a gas torch that have caused   some to doubt   my honesty when telling of it.
Reply:Roger that, my father worked in a body shop before college, and we'd visit his old boss.  That guy made panel fitting look easy.  He brazed everything.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Whups.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.