JasonPAtkins
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2010
- Location
- Guinea-Bissau, West Africa
Hi folks,
My beloved DoAll blade welder just went up in smoke, I believe. Because of my remote location, I don't have a way to get a used transformer over anytime soon (and DoAll doesn't sell them for that 70's(?) machine anyway).
I'm on my last saw blade and won't have a way to get factory-welded ones sent over for another year, and have a lot of sawing to do between now and then.
I do, however, have someone flying over in a week, and the lightest thing I can think for them to bring to solve the problem is the stuff to silver solder.
I have soldered electrical stuff and copper plumbing before, but past that have zero experience with soldering or brazing.
I read several message board threads about silver soldering blades, but am left with a few questions.
1) As I understand, soldering silver would have 1-3% solder, but everyone is recommending 45% silver solder for bandsaw blades, which I think means they're actually recommending silver brazing, right?
2) The only non-welder heat I have available is a handheld butane torch. The biggest blade I'm trying to weld is 1", but most are 3/4" and 5/8" - will I be able to get enough heat out of a handheld butane torch to do that? (I assume so?) I'm not talking about a micro torch, more like a Bernzomatic but using Butane instead of Propane.
3) Most of the threads about welding blades that I read were by wood guys - does this soldering treatment stand up to sawing steel? Also, can I use it on bimetal blades, which are just about all of what I use?
4) Other than the torch, I think I need flux and braze alloy. I found these two, are they what I need?
A) Braze alloy - Safety Silv 45 Harris 4531 Safety Silv 45 Silver Brazing Alloy 1 t.o.: Heating Cooling: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
B) Flux - Stay Silv Brazing Flux Harris SSWF1 Stay Silv Brazing Flux, 1 lb. Jar, White: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
The fixturing I can easily take care of - what I need to know is if this will produce a good weld. Some people seem to prefer butt welded, some say a silver soldered joint is more durable. I have had great success with my DoAll welding Lenox Classic, but have had a lot of broken joints from it on the Lenox Neo I run on my Ellis (because they don't make Classic in 5/8").
Thanks!
My beloved DoAll blade welder just went up in smoke, I believe. Because of my remote location, I don't have a way to get a used transformer over anytime soon (and DoAll doesn't sell them for that 70's(?) machine anyway).
I'm on my last saw blade and won't have a way to get factory-welded ones sent over for another year, and have a lot of sawing to do between now and then.
I do, however, have someone flying over in a week, and the lightest thing I can think for them to bring to solve the problem is the stuff to silver solder.
I have soldered electrical stuff and copper plumbing before, but past that have zero experience with soldering or brazing.
I read several message board threads about silver soldering blades, but am left with a few questions.
1) As I understand, soldering silver would have 1-3% solder, but everyone is recommending 45% silver solder for bandsaw blades, which I think means they're actually recommending silver brazing, right?
2) The only non-welder heat I have available is a handheld butane torch. The biggest blade I'm trying to weld is 1", but most are 3/4" and 5/8" - will I be able to get enough heat out of a handheld butane torch to do that? (I assume so?) I'm not talking about a micro torch, more like a Bernzomatic but using Butane instead of Propane.
3) Most of the threads about welding blades that I read were by wood guys - does this soldering treatment stand up to sawing steel? Also, can I use it on bimetal blades, which are just about all of what I use?
4) Other than the torch, I think I need flux and braze alloy. I found these two, are they what I need?
A) Braze alloy - Safety Silv 45 Harris 4531 Safety Silv 45 Silver Brazing Alloy 1 t.o.: Heating Cooling: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
B) Flux - Stay Silv Brazing Flux Harris SSWF1 Stay Silv Brazing Flux, 1 lb. Jar, White: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific
The fixturing I can easily take care of - what I need to know is if this will produce a good weld. Some people seem to prefer butt welded, some say a silver soldered joint is more durable. I have had great success with my DoAll welding Lenox Classic, but have had a lot of broken joints from it on the Lenox Neo I run on my Ellis (because they don't make Classic in 5/8").
Thanks!