SMAW and Brass?

admin

I have been designing brass instruments for some time now but have never had the opportunity to build them. Its my intention to buy the necessary equipment to weld brass, hopefully I can do it with a Stick Welder. What i need to know is, 1. What kind of arc welder, as in , what sort of amp, current, and any other miscellaneous attributes should I look for to weld brass to brass or other alloys to brass.2. What sort of electrode rod should I be using for the welding of high or low zinc brass. 3. A list of other materials needed.
Reply:I don't know that it can be done with an arc welder. Wouldn't soldering be a better choice.Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:Silver brazing?MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:I have done it with TIG, welds kind of fun and the bead looks like aluminum.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:I suppose I'm going through all my options but I can show the links where i got the info about SMAW and Brass.http://welding.w4zt.com/stick.htmlthis site claims that 1851 rod (whatever that is .. as I am a newbie) will weld brass and dissimilar metals at direct current electrode positive in any positionhttp://www.welding-technology-machin...ng-brasses.htmthis site here says under "option 3" that its possible as well.either way I'm happy to listen to any and all opinions on what equipment you would recommend to a person wishing to use predominately brass components. Please be specific and complete as I am very new to all this. Thank you in advance
Reply:I was unaware of the 1851 rod you might have a hard time finding it. My idea of what your trying do comes down to joining very thin sheet metal. Let us know exactly what thickness you working with. The smallest rod they listed is 3/32.  It' going to be quite a trick to weld metal thinner than 16 gauge with 3/32 rod. If welding is a must and the brass is quite thin then i'm with Tozzi Tig may be your best bet. Has anyone tried silicone bronze wire in a mig welder?Tough as nails and damn near as smart
Reply:What type instruments?Mister Roger's "Mister Roger's Neighborhood" did a tour of a trumpet manufactures.  Very interesting.  Perhaps you could find an episode.  The took a trumpet form start to finish.
Reply:Originally Posted by zer0I suppose I'm going through all my options but I can show the links where i got the info about SMAW and Brass.http://welding.w4zt.com/stick.htmlthis site claims that 1851 rod (whatever that is .. as I am a newbie) will weld brass and dissimilar metals at direct current electrode positive in any positionhttp://www.welding-technology-machin...ng-brasses.htmthis site here says under "option 3" that its possible as well.either way I'm happy to listen to any and all opinions on what equipment you would recommend to a person wishing to use predominately brass components. Please be specific and complete as I am very new to all this. Thank you in advance
Reply:Well from the responses i have become interested in the silver brazing and TigIf you would be so kind could you give me the rundown of the materials and equipment used in both? As for what I plan on.. trinkets, goggles, watches, pen racks, lamps, fans, etc..if you've ever heard of the steampunk style then you would undoubtedly be aware of the importance of brass in the sub culture... valued for its aesthetic and weight
Reply:Originally Posted by zer0Well from the responses i have become interested in the silver brazing and TigIf you would be so kind could you give me the rundown of the materials and equipment used in both? As for what I plan on.. trinkets, goggles, watches, pen racks, lamps, fans, etc..if you've ever heard of the steampunk style then you would undoubtedly be aware of the importance of brass in the sub culture... valued for its aesthetic and weight
Reply:* looks around* artists are welcome here to right?Thanks for the warm welcomeLast edited by zer0; 01-11-2009 at 12:14 PM.
Reply:* looks around* artists are welcome here to right?
Reply:I think o/a will be most useful for your purposes.  From what it appear you will be doing, you could start with one of those small portable o/a uints and upgrade tanks later.    Go to your local welding supplier and you could walk out with everything you need to start brazing. Everyting - includes Gases and brazing/soldering alloy.It is really up to you to figure out what you are making and determine the best process and material needed.  Different alloys have different colors.  Also you must pay attention to the use.  How much heat will it be exposed to or how much strength will you need or even are you going to be eating/drinking from the object...?  No need to weld when you can braze, or no need to braze when you can solder . By the way your question was fairly specific about arc welding.  Most people still probably don't tig brass.  Perhaps the right person hasn't seen it yet.  Perhaps you could persent a specific project, then get more guidance.Good luck.
Reply:I googled "steampunk" and the Wikipedia led me to this photo. Pretty cool stuff if this is representative. Rex Attached ImagesLast edited by rode2rouen; 01-11-2009 at 10:38 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by zer0* looks around* artists are welcome here to right?Thanks for the warm welcome
Reply:Originally Posted by rode2rouenI googled "steampunk" and the Wikipedia led me to this photo. Pretty cool stuff if this is representative. Rex
Reply:A steampunker crash landed at WeldingWeb a while ago. Remember - He was searching for some odd-ball gas welding goggles, and introduced us to the joys of  steampunk. He had posted a link to a webcast-only show. If you're interested in steampunk it would be worth searching for.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepA steampunker crash landed at WeldingWeb a while ago. Remember - He was searching for some odd-ball gas welding goggles, and introduced us to the joys of  steampunk. He had posted a link to a webcast-only show. If you're interested in steampunk it would be worth searching for.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55That guy was a steampunker?  I remember he was looking for those goggles for some kind of theater or otherwise production  but I guess that's about it.
Reply:Originally Posted by denrepI thought that's what he was about. Maybe I'm mistaken.But I know there was some steampunk on here somewhere.
Reply:As soon as I get a working scanner I'll be hapy to post a design or two. They are all pretty amateur stuff. I just started not to long ago and since I have little experience with fabrication its hard to tell if the designs will work.. though I'm pretty sure at least one will
Reply:one thing i would do is invest in a jewelers torch.  it is a very fine o/a torch and is capable of welding, soldering, brazing fine jewelry.  the precision can not be beat.  you can also pick up mini torches that will fill in the gaps.  there are several types of processes you can do with a variety of fluxes, pastes, and fillers.  a general break down of process are soldering is low heat.  includes flux and filler.  there are a large variety of fillers and different "recipes" of metal in them.brazing is medium to high heat that doesn't melt the parent metal and it uses flux and filler.  this process is stronger that the other and is the preferred method of joining dissimilar metals like what you are dealing with.  it strength will and most often times be stronger than any weld due to joint configuration and the inherent properties of brazing.welding is were the parent metal is melted and fused together and a filler is added to joint.  the filler is the same metal as the parent metal or and alloy of the parent metal to enhance the weld.  this process is the highest heat of the three.
Reply:Like steel, brass comes in many shapes, forms, sizes and compositions. I tried to fix a brass symbol once. It had a crack on the edge. I could not keep from burning through with the stuff. It was like putting the torch to newspaper, poof.You would try the very smallest butane torches. I thing acetylene will be too hot, but again that depends on the brass you have to work with. Heavier stuff, like fittings, are differnt story
Reply:Great basic break-down of these different popular processes Scott.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:What's a steampunker?"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/Originally Posted by farmersammWhat's a steampunker?