[TheForge] Brazing vs welding

[Bruce Freeman]

Dave,

Double wonderful discovery.  In this (blacksmithing) community, brazing is =
greatly underrated.  For MOST progects, brazing would do as well as or =
better than welding.  Functionally, that is.  Brazing is especially good =
when there's large surface contact between the pieces.  However, I needed =
a roller chain (from a bike) sprocket with a half-inch ID.  Since these =
sprockets have about 2" ID as they come, I brazed a fender washer to the =
ID.  That's edge-to-edge contact.  Worked like a champ.  Very strong.  =
Effectively one piece of metal.

Handy and Harmon's Brazing Book is a great resource.  They'll even send =
you a paper copy free!

Bruce
NJ

>>> quahog@tds.net 11/14/02 03:54PM >>>
I've been looking around and reading and have started to think that =
maybe=20
I'm welding too often (forge and/or MIG and/or stick) and maybe should =
do=20
more brazing in certain applications.  I found one good site on line =
that=20
tells a lot about brazing, it's pros and cons.  It is The Brazing Book=20
online and can be found at=20
http://www.handyharmancanada.com/TheBrazingBook/contents.htm#Index=20

There seems to be a lot more versatility and strength to brazing than I=20
thought.  I think this online book on brazing is gonna be worth a =
little=20
more reading/browsing.

Anyone have any thoughts or experience to share on brazing in the forge?


Dave Brown
Heritage Smithing
Green Bay, WI
ABANA, UMBA, GoM, MODA, ARG