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Shooter · 05-01-2007, 10:04 AM

I've been lurking about here for quite a while looking at pics/vids and reading a whole lot. I'm fairly new to this, but decided that I'm gonna make an attempt to build a bronco tuber, wanted to do my old 1:1 but children and life in general prevented it.....anyway. The opinion of most (not all) people on here seems to be that stainless is harder to work with. I've seen this in several theads, but I haven't seen a very definative answer has to why it is harder to work with, or any general ways to make things run a little smoother. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? If I'm bringing this up again for the umpteenth time I apologize, but searches for stainless, brazing, tubing, etc. have left me still looking.

BUBBA069 · 05-01-2007, 11:13 AM

Stainless is VERY hard. There is no way a dremel will hold up, drilling it sucks unless you have a good drill press and quality bits. Bending it sucks too, it has a lot of spring back due to the 'memory' that the steel has, cutting it you will want a good band saw too.

and most importantly its expensive as hell, on average $1.50-2.00 per foot more than regular steel.

I have never tried to braze it or weld it.

Ace · 05-01-2007, 01:12 PM

I dunno, I built my tuber out of stainless. A little harder to cut than steel but not a whole lot. I did fishmouth mine in the Bridgeport with a carbide mill. But did some with the dremel and a grinding wheel.

It's nice cause you don't have to paint, and scratches don't rust.

Silver solders like a dream (StaySilv 56)

Cost? I think my whole tuber with screwups was 2 6 foot tubes, maybe $20 worth...

roktoy · 05-01-2007, 02:49 PM

I concur with Ace......brazes very nice. It is harder but means it makes for a stronger chassis. Bending not much tougher to do.

Fishmouthing does take more work though.....worth the effort I think for what you end up with.

Jay

Shooter · 05-01-2007, 09:16 PM

Thanks for the replies. Stainless just seems more "attractive" to me, but I was about to steer clear of it. I may pick up a small amount of both and play a little to see how it works out.

Mike Poulson · 05-02-2007, 12:44 PM

Practice with brake line, build with stainless

05-01-2007, 10:04 AM	#1
Shooter Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stonewall Posts: 5	brazing stainless? I've been lurking about here for quite a while looking at pics/vids and reading a whole lot. I'm fairly new to this, but decided that I'm gonna make an attempt to build a bronco tuber, wanted to do my old 1:1 but children and life in general prevented it.....anyway. The opinion of most (not all) people on here seems to be that stainless is harder to work with. I've seen this in several theads, but I haven't seen a very definative answer has to why it is harder to work with, or any general ways to make things run a little smoother. Can anyone shed some light on this for me? If I'm bringing this up again for the umpteenth time I apologize, but searches for stainless, brazing, tubing, etc. have left me still looking.

05-01-2007, 11:13 AM	#2
BUBBA069 Pebble Pounder Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: st. louis Posts: 115	Stainless is VERY hard. There is no way a dremel will hold up, drilling it sucks unless you have a good drill press and quality bits. Bending it sucks too, it has a lot of spring back due to the 'memory' that the steel has, cutting it you will want a good band saw too. and most importantly its expensive as hell, on average $1.50-2.00 per foot more than regular steel. I have never tried to braze it or weld it. Last edited by BUBBA069; 05-01-2007 at 11:15 AM.

05-01-2007, 01:12 PM	#3
Ace Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Longmont, CO Posts: 901	I dunno, I built my tuber out of stainless. A little harder to cut than steel but not a whole lot. I did fishmouth mine in the Bridgeport with a carbide mill. But did some with the dremel and a grinding wheel. It's nice cause you don't have to paint, and scratches don't rust. Silver solders like a dream (StaySilv 56) Cost? I think my whole tuber with screwups was 2 6 foot tubes, maybe $20 worth...

05-01-2007, 02:49 PM	#4
roktoy Dirt Addict Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stumblin' thru the parking lot of an invisible 7-Eleven Posts: 1,053	I concur with Ace......brazes very nice. It is harder but means it makes for a stronger chassis. Bending not much tougher to do. Fishmouthing does take more work though.....worth the effort I think for what you end up with. Jay

05-01-2007, 09:16 PM	#5
Shooter Newbie Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Stonewall Posts: 5	Thanks for the replies. Stainless just seems more "attractive" to me, but I was about to steer clear of it. I may pick up a small amount of both and play a little to see how it works out.

05-02-2007, 12:44 PM	#6
Mike Poulson Quarry Creeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SLC Posts: 382	Practice with brake line, build with stainless

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