Hold on to your BRASS

[David R]

Here is a job I got in the other day. I had no Idea what to weld it with , so I went to the local Welding supply and talked to the Old guy. (70 something) After a few technical questions (what color is it) they handed me 2 kinds of rod. One was pure brass and the other was Idunno. I think it was phos bronze, but I have to look at the invoice tomorrow. I also have some Phos bronze electordes in 2 flavors. One is 3/32, runs on DC-, the other is 1/8" and runs on DC+. I cleaned it up and tried the electrodes first using the specs on the box. No joy. Next I tried the tig rods. The pure brass rods spit and sputtered, the other one (Ok, I'm embarassed, I can't remember names for beans) worked fine.

Here is the unit



Here are the cracks and old welds




Time for some prep and clean up of the old welds. SEE the old weld? I was getting sparks from the die grinder and 4 1/2" grinding wheel. I have no idea what was used, but all of it had to go.

[David R]

Here is the first weld. I don't walk the cup, but I "ride the cup". I rest the cup on one surface and let it help me keep a steadier bead.

Here is one side completed



And a close up of my pride and Joy

[Joe H]

Nice!

[aczeller]

very interesting... i never thought that you coudl weld brass. i figured it would melt too quickly and jsut run all over. what is that thing anyway? it either looks like a cage for a small child, or an end table... possibly both? hehehehe looks a little heavy and dirty for an end table.

later,
Andy

[David R]

Its a thingamajig. Probably weighs a hunert pounds. I used my arcmaster 185. I had to push it to the floor and wait a while to get a puddle going on the thick stuff. I was thinking about hooking the torch to the V350. Once I welded an inch or so, it worked great.

After I got home, I read the book and I should have preheated the whole piece to 500 or so. I put a couple of holes in the thinner stuff, but just filled em. I pointed the torch directly at the thick stuff. With preheat, the electrodes may have worked too.

David