Brazing setups? Or welding

[Offroadaddict]

I wanna build my own crawler, I was wondering if you guys braze the frame if so whats a good cheap brazing setup and where would I get it, or do you guys weld it? Wirrfeed welding?

 

[ScaleFreak93]

Hi. welcome to the site, people use all sorts of methods for building parts and frames and whatnot. Spend some time searching and see what you like. You can find everything you need here. "thumbsup"

 

[sick86burban]

if you're new to both,i would pick up a cheap wire feed welder from Harbor freight. you can get the little 90 amp flux for around $100. its a crappy welder for anything 1/8th inch thick and above,but for a crawler and parts it would work great. the reason i am giving this suggestion,is because between the t methods,welding is way easier.

 

[ScaleFreak93]

I would have to disagree, brazing is much easier than mig welding IMO, it's basically soldering.

 

[Offroadaddict]

Yeah but whats going to do a better job? and nots whats easier but whats going to do a better job for the money, im on $100 limit for the tools right now but I have a job and make $200 a week( I only work saturday and sunday)

 

[ScaleFreak93]

They'll both hold up just fine. Brazing is strong as all hell! And it's easy, and you can get the stuff you need for less than 100$ if you know where to look. And yes, mig welding is very easy as well and very strong. You'll just need a little more finesse for smaller joints so that you don't have a booger weld that takes forever to grind down.

 

[Offroadaddict]

I already found the tips and everything I just need the tanks, where would I get them?

 

[ScaleFreak93]

MAP gas? You can get those from lowes, home depot, ace hardware etc.

 

[Offroadaddict]

what about the metal, I went to homr depot but couldnt find it

 

[sick86burban]

Home depot and lowes will both have it,well most hardware stores.

 

[Offroadaddict]

What metal should I ask for?

 

[sick86burban]

depends how you want do it? most people building a scale type frame use 1/2" sq tubing,then cut it down the center wich makes it into c channel.

 

[Offroadaddict]

I got steel rod, and the bernz o matic oxygen and mapp gas torch just to see how it goes

 

[killswitch]

I use the same torch setup. Love it. You'll learn that the mapp tank will outlast the oxygen tank about 3 to 1. The devil is in the details... How well you prep the material will dictate how nice your chassis ends up being. Buy a 3/16" chainsaw file to fishmouth the material. The better you get at fishmouthing the tubing/rod, the better everything fits together and the stronger your chassis will be.

 

[stanmondz]

i borrowed a crosstech 2100 torch head from a coworker. its pretty expensive, but it will braze 3/16" solid rod using 1/8" coated bronze brazing rods WITH PROPANE.
i posted a few pics in the tools section here last night

this is the torch head
Crosstech Double Torch Head with Clean Out TM2100CLO | eBay

you can get propane at walmart in the sporting goods section for under 10 bucks a 2 pack. its a little more at home depot or lowes
and i got the bronze rod at lowes for 8 bucks, its a 1 pound tube.

to braze with the safty silv, you still got to buy a torch,$40+
then the silver and flux kit is $40+, you get a oz of solder, 1.75 oz flux

 

[djoefromreal]

there is a topic in the scx10 section, it's called something like steelhead dingo. this guy has amazing-brazing work. Reading it gave me hope as newb, because he states over there that this is is first time brazing job!

http://www.rccrawler.com/forum/axial-scx-10/370610-dingo-based-scaler-steelhead.html

there ya go