OA welding/brazing conduit

[BeezFun]

I'm pretty good with OA welding, soldered a lot, and brazed a casting once. I have a project to make out of 3/4" conduit. I'm thinking it's so thin it's probably easier and maybe faster to braze. Assuming that's true, what kind of brazing rod would I use? What is proper preparation procedure? Application is a stand for our dog to use to hop up and down off the horse during a trick show, so strength is not a consideration.
I don't need any additional info on zinc given off while welding galvanized.
tnx

 

[955Lincoln]

That galvanized stuff will make ya go blind!! J/K

Do you know anyone in A/C service that could give you a stick of Sil Fos? It works really well or you could buy some. I don't think you could go wrong with any ole brazing rod. I have a tube of flux coated LF bronze that I have been using for the past 30 years so I'm not very familiar with what is on the market now a days.

 

[k0ua]

I have had some success using DC stick at 30 amps with 1/16 6013. It is difficult, and real easy to make a hole. But I did one 45 degree mitered joint just to see if I could. Move fast, and concentrate

James K0UA

 

[nikdfish]

For miscellaneous mixed metal joining back in my youthful days of found art metal sculpture, use of a bare bronze rod & a can of cast iron flux was pretty much my usual approach. With the right tip, you could stick most anything to anything...

Nick

 

[BeezFun]

That galvanized stuff will make ya go blind!! J/K

I'll stop when I need glasses

I have a tube of flux coated LF bronze that I have been using for the past 30 years so I'm not very familiar with what is on the market now a days.

You jogged my memory, I still have 4 pieces of 1/8" flux coated bronze rod from who knows what. It's probably a little too big diameter, but I can at least give it a try to see how it goes.

 

[BeezFun]

For miscellaneous mixed metal joining back in my youthful days of found art metal sculpture, use of a bare bronze rod & a can of cast iron flux was pretty much my usual approach. With the right tip, you could stick most anything to anything...

Nick

I guess I should man-up and buy some flux and bare rod. The only thing I've ever used is flux coated rod.

 

[Taylortractornut]

For money in high school I was getting tons of new 3/4 Conduit from an over stock they were about to scrap. Id come home and bend it and notch some steps. I built many brazed deer stands from them.

 

[Gary Fowler]

If you are using real electrical conduit you should be able to stick rod it easily enough. If you are using the tubing for electrical wires then brazing will be your option. I would use 1/8" brass rod and white brazing flux for that. White flux is for low heat application whereas the Black is for higher heat like needed for cast iron. Use the large diameter rod to soak up the excess heat. A size 0 or 00 tip is what I would use for it also. If you have a closet full of old wire coat hangers, they work well for OA welding. Welding using the OA torch will give you stronger welds, but you would need to get rid of the zinc on the conduit to do a good job. As said if it is pipe conduit which is like schedule 40 pipe, you can stick rod it fairly well.

 

[BeezFun]

If you are using real electrical conduit you should be able to stick rod it easily enough. If you are using the tubing for electrical wires then brazing will be your option. I would use 1/8" brass rod and white brazing flux for that. White flux is for low heat application whereas the Black is for higher heat like needed for cast iron. Use the large diameter rod to soak up the excess heat. A size 0 or 00 tip is what I would use for it also. If you have a closet full of old wire coat hangers, they work well for OA welding. Welding using the OA torch will give you stronger welds, but you would need to get rid of the zinc on the conduit to do a good job. As said if it is pipe conduit which is like schedule 40 pipe, you can stick rod it fairly well.

I'm using EMT (the thin stuff), not rigid (the thick stuff), should have made that clear. Thanks for info, sounds like the 1/8" rod I have should work fine, it's got white flux on it. Didn't know I could use coat hangers. If I can finish my taxes this weekend I'll give it a try.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I used wire coat hangers for years. Never bought any mild steel brazing wire. They work really well if you get the larger wire ones they work better. Dont worry about removing the varnish either and no flux required.