Looking to make a roll cage.Flux question.

[crazie311]

So Ive done my research and I have the right torches and I have the brake line all I need is the brazing rod itself.I have seen people use the rod dipped in flux.I found this at lowes (Lincoln Electric 1/8" Flux Coated Brazing Rod) would I still need flux?Should I stay away from flux coated rods?Any info is greatly appreciated.

[gyrene]

You can use the rod that comes with flux. Personally I don't like it and there seems to be a bit of a trick to it. I use Harris safty-silv rod and Harris stay-silv white flux. Works great. It has a lower melting temp and flows like butter. Heres a link if you havent already read it:
http://www.rccrawler.com/tuber.htm

[Szczerba]

With my limited experience, I learned to clean up the joints real good and then add a bit of flux paste to them. Using bare or coated rods. Might be overkill but I didn't have a teacher. So i thought the cleaner the better.
I had good luck with using flux coated rods, smallest diameter I could find. And I also had good luck with small diameter bare bronze rods, just have to clean up the joint a little better than using the flux coated rods. I prefer the bare small diameter rods. Easier to work with and heat up faster. Plus, I didn't want to break the bank with the costly safety silv stuff.
You will learn the key to brazing is in the correct flame. Once you figure that out, you'll knock out some work fast.

[freetimecrawler]

I wouldn't waste my time or money on anything but Harris safty-silv. Once you use that, you'll never braze with anything else.

[Crawln Coles]

Originally Posted by freetimecrawler

I wouldn't waste my time or money on anything but Harris safty-silv. Once you use that, you'll never braze with anything else.

I agree 100%

I started with the brazing rods because I couldn't find Harris, but when I did finally track some silver solder down it was amazing. It flows better and is alot easier to work with.

[Nate08]

Originally Posted by Crawln Coles

I agree 100%

I started with the brazing rods because I couldn't find Harris, but when I did finally track some silver solder down it was amazing. It flows better and is alot easier to work with.

Same here. Wanted to get my supplies locally so tried the coated rod - hated brazing, ponied up for the harris and havent looked back.

[crazie311]

I bought some stuff last night that I thought would work,Turns out its electrodes for a welder.lol shit wouldnt melt or bend.So im off to northern or harbor freight to look for brazing rod.

[crazie311]

Ok so i have brazine rod but i cant seem to get it to melt..Question is what holds the to peice of brake line together?I thought that the bronze would melt and run over the brake line and harden creating the "weld"...I cant get my bronze to melt..I get it red and it still wont melt..BUT the brake line was kinda staying togeter with clear stuff(flux i guess).help

[crazie311]

ima try the oxy and gas mix and see if that works..mapp isnt hot enough.

[rockunlimited2]

Mt atempt did not turn out well. may just go with a lexan body and call it done.

[Sephis]

Originally Posted by crazie311

ima try the oxy and gas mix and see if that works..mapp isnt hot enough.

This is why everyone above you with any experience recommended the safety-silv products. The brass rods are meant to be used with an oxy-acetylene torch. I've seen people use the smaller brass rods with colder torches, but its a PITA. Just buy the safety-silv and stay-silv flux, and it will work beautifully with just about any torch setup.