Gas welding copper

[hdshinn]

Can it be done?

I have a Lincoln 120v mig welder but I'm not that proficient with it. I'm more comfortable with brazing with oxy-acetelyne. If it's possible to gas weld copper, looking for advice on flux and rod. Will brazing flux work and can I use ordinary copper wire for rod?

Thanks for any comments.

 

[Steve from Socal]

You can gas weld copper with flux and rod that is made to use with it. http://www.tinmantech.com/html/copper_index.php

Steve

 

[rsanter]

is this for ART?
if so a filler material will leave a discoloration line where the weld is.
for filler cut a thin strip from the same material and use that as filler

bob

 

[hdshinn]

Thanks for the replies.

Not an art piece. I'm a hobby metal spinner and I'm designing a still. The main pot will have to be in two pieces like hemispheres either soldered (lead free of course) or welded. Soldering would be a slam dunk of course but I'm always looking for a more complicated way of doing things. (grin)

 

[Frank The Plumber]

It can be tig'd. I used copper wire for electrical as my filler. It eats a lot of heat. You may need a special flux that will not burn out at that heat if you use a flux at all. TIG did not need a flux, just a clean surface and a heap of energy.

 

[kbs2244]

The real ones were soldered with pure lead.
They same stuff they used for bullets.

 

[malibu101]

The real ones were soldered with pure lead.
They same stuff they used for bullets.

They didn't know any better. Or care.
We now know and care.

 

[rkevins]

if you know a plumber of hvac tech see if you can get some siliphos (not sure of the spelling) or go to a hvac supply and see if you can buy a small amount. you use it like a brazing rod. it's what hvac lines are soldered with.

 

[Cougar]

I've had good luck with Sta-Silv 15.

http://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Products/Alloys/Brazing/Phos-Copper/Stay-Silv-15.aspx

 

[rickairmedic]

I've had good luck with Sta-Silv 15.

http://www.harrisproductsgroup.com/en/Products/Alloys/Brazing/Phos-Copper/Stay-Silv-15.aspx

Cougar has the right product for the job its what we use on refrigerant lines and will work well on your still .


Rick

 

[rkevins]

I agree with both above that's what I was thinking of but could'nt remember the name and it to hot to go to the shop

 

[Frank The Plumber]

If you google gas welding copper you will surely find something neat.

 

[Ron Lombardo]

If this is for a still .. I wouldnt use any flux ... Brazing rod 15% silver solder and a pointy tip with oxy/acetylene ..will dot he trick .. not flux ... most of the time you dont even have to clean the tube and fittings if they are new.

Ron

 

[danski0224]

If you braze, there will be a layer of oxide on the inside of whatever you are brazing.

The interior needs to be purged with nitrogen while brazing.

It will make cleanup a lot easier.

 

[Ron Lombardo]

Its harmless ... medical gases are brazed .. and purged with nitrogen .. but I have never seem any real difference ... to purge it properly you need a nitrogen farm.

R

 

[danski0224]

Wouldn't a simple 40cf nitro tank and an appropriate regulator do the trick? Uniweld makes a nice flow regulator, too.

 

[kbs2244]

Originally Posted by kbs2244
The real ones were soldered with pure lead.
They same stuff they used for bullets.

They didn't know any better. Or care.
We now know and care.

Actually, on most of the real old ones I have seen, the top fit over the base barrel.
They assembled them upside down and just poured the lead into the tight fitting seam
after packing it with string.
Much the same as plumbers did the old cast iron drain pipes.
There was no way to look inside with out a camera on a stick, but given that everything was expensive in those days, I doubt much if any lead got to the inside.
The seam was pretty thin.

 

[metaldad]

15% silfoss, sold in 1# tubes,,,,,,,,,,, goes for abouts $175 these days.

 

[Ron Lombardo]

" 15% silfoss, sold in 1# tubes,,,,,,,,,,, goes for abouts $175 these days. "

I guess it depends on how much moon shine your making and also I dont think its much when your brazing together a copper STILL ...have you seen the price of copper tube and fittings these days ?

Ron

 

[rsanter]

if you solder it I would use silver solder

you want dificult? how about hammer welding?
you fit the pieced with a slight overlap and then heat a spot and use a hammer & dolly.
when you do it right you end up 'melding' the materials together such that you cannot tell the seam even when you cut across it

it is the true hotrodder old school way. I have done it and its alot of work but so cool when your done

bob

 

[Grinsha]

You might try stripped romex wire and borax for flux.

 

[spy604]

if you solder it I would use silver solder

you want dificult? how about hammer welding?
you fit the pieced with a slight overlap and then heat a spot and use a hammer & dolly.
when you do it right you end up 'melding' the materials together such that you cannot tell the seam even when you cut across it

it is the true hotrodder old school way. I have done it and its alot of work but so cool when your done

bob

also known as forging

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forging

 

[KenS]

Brazing copper video...