Tig brazing is a method for connecting two pieces of metal together using another piece of metal as a filler. This process is basically heating both pieces of metal, then inserting the filler into a hole and slowly twisting it around until the brazing takes place, which fuses the two metals together. Tig Brazing Cast Iron method is great because with other methods you have to apply excessive force to join two pieces of metal together and risk deforming them or breaking them. You also don’t want to expose any moisture to your piece before you join it, as this can cause rust or corrosion if left untreated. If you’re interested in learning more about this process, read on!
Photo by MasonsWorkshop
Why Use Tig Brazing?
- Tig brazing prevents damage to the piece of metal you are joining. With other welding methods, you risk damaging the piece of metal you are joining, so it’s important to use the right method for the right job.
- Tig brazing is great for joining cast iron because it doesn’t require you to use as much heat as a gas torch. With gas torches, you have to use a lot of heat to melt the joint between the pieces of metal, and if you don’t have the right equipment you can cause damage to your piece of iron. With a tig welder, you don’t have to use as much heat to fuse the iron together.
- Tig brazing is also great for joining ferrous metals together, as it prevents corrosion and rust. With other welding methods, you risk exposing the two pieces of metal to moisture and corrosion, so tig welding is a good way to prevent this.
- Tig brazing is great for joining metals with different levels of hardness, as it’s difficult for you to break the joint. If you are welding two pieces of softer iron, it’s unlikely you will break the joint.
- Tig brazing is cheap and easy. With other welding methods, you have to have the right equipment, which often comes at a high cost.
Equipment for Tig brazing cast iron
Here are some equipment for tig brazing:
- A torch, flux, and filler rod.
- A brazing rod and torch.
- A silicone sealant.
- A piece of scrap metal.
- A workbench.
- Clean cloths, paper towels, or rags.
- A heat gun or oven.
- A thermometer or thermocouple.
- A sink.
- Asmall bowl or container.
- A kitchen sponge or dishcloth.
- A pair of tongs.
- A sharp pair of scissors.
- A vice if necessary.
How to Tig Brazing Cast Iron
Heat the piece of metal to be joined in your oven or over a gas flame, then allow it to cool. Heat the filler rod and torch again, then place the filler rod into the hole of the piece of metal to be joined and place the torch’s flame over the filler rod. Heat the two pieces of metal together until they start to glow, then wipe down the filler rod with a cloth to remove any excess flux. Wipe down the torch with a cloth as well.
If you are brazing cast iron, keep in mind that the torch will leave a black mark on it that may stain your workbench. Once the pieces are cool, you are ready to weld them.
Safety and Precautions When Tig Brazing Cast Iron
– If you are using a gas torch, be sure to clean it with a cloth and remove any excess gas from it. If you don’t, you can cause an explosion.
– Wear protective glasses when welding cast iron to prevent damage to your eyes.
– Keep your work area clean and clear of items that could get caught in your welding torch.
– It’s important that your torch’s tip is clean when you’re welding cast iron. If it isn’t clean, the joint could be compromised.
– If you are using a torch with a thermocouple or thermometer, be sure to regulate its heat. If the heat becomes too high, you could damage the joint.
– If you are using a gas torch, don’t use it in your oven or freezer.
– It’s important that you wait a few seconds between each weld. If you try to weld right after heating both pieces of iron together, you could burn the joint.
– It’s important that you brazing rod is clean and free of any dust or debris before welding. If it’s dirty, it could cause damage to your joint.
– It’s important that you wait a few seconds between each weld. If you try to weld right after heating both pieces of iron together, you could burn the joint.
Pros of Tig Brazing Cast Iron
Here are some pros of tig brazing cast iron:
– It doesn’t require you to use a lot of heat and the joint is resistant to corrosion.
– It’s cheap and easy to set up. – It doesn’t require much maintenance.
– It doesn’t require any special tools.
– It’s extremely versatile and can be used to join metal of all types and different levels of hardness.
– It’s environmentally friendly, as it doesn’t involve using any harmful chemicals or gases.
– It’s simple and easy to use.
Cons of Tig Brazing Cast Iron
Here are some cons of tig brazing cast iron
– It takes longer to heat the joint than other welding methods.
– It takes longer to cool the joint than other welding methods.
– If you’re welding cast iron, you will be left with a mark that may stain your workbench.
– It’s only suitable for joining metals of similar hardness.
– It’s only suitable for joining metals that don’t have much weight.
Tig brazing cast iron
Now that you know how to Tig brazing cast iron, why not give it a try? You could join two pieces of iron together like this gate or this stove. It’s important to note that another method of joining cast iron is to braze it instead of welding it, but we won’t go over it here because it’s a completely different process. As we mentioned before, this is a great method for joining cast iron. It’s cheap, easy, and doesn’t require you to use a lot of heat.
You can even use it to join ferrous metals, as it doesn’t expose them to water or corrosion. So now that you know how to Tig weld cast iron, welding iron, and brazing iron, why not try some of these projects to try out these methods for yourself? They are great projects for learning how to do these welding and brazing methods.