Confused

[NoblesvilleKid]

Hi I'm going to try to braze and I have searched but have not found the steps of brazing. When brazing I put the flux on the end of the brake line, heat up the joint, and the apply the brazing rod,or do I heat up the joint while applying the rod. Thanks

[Thorsteenster]

you have to get the joint hot enough to melt the solder and it flows into the gap. also flux any where the joint will be, on both pieces.

[NoblesvilleKid]

Thanks, so I heat then apply the rod

[Thorsteenster]

yup, you'll know its hot enough when you touch it to the joint and it melts/flows into the joint.

[NoblesvilleKid]

Thanks, I hope I can do it I'm only 14 but I have all summer.

[Thorsteenster]

its easier than you think, i just did it for the first time a few weeks ago. get a length of brake line and practice a few joints until you get the hang of it, then do your tube work.

[RCCrawlerTT]

1. Apply flux.
2. Heat joint until it is a very faint orange color, DO NOT OVER HEAT. If you overheat the joint it could either melt the base metal or just cause your solder to run off.
3. If you find that you have heated it to a bright red, don't stop, just back off a bit until it cools some.
4. Touch the solder to the joint and it should almost look like it is "sucked' into the gap, this is called capillary action.
5. Don't put too much solder, or you'll find yourself grinding down a large bubble of metal on the lower side of whatever you are brazing.
6. Also be weary of reheating a joint once it is brazed, they have a nasty tendency to become "unbrazed" (basically the solder just melts off and you lose that weld and have to redo it.)

Just my 2 cents.

[NoblesvilleKid]

Thanks for the help guys

[Mad Scientist]

Also, keep in mind that brazing & soldering both require joints that fit well together. The tighter the fit and the less gap there is, the stronger the joint will be.