doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com welding a small part ??????

I'd just make a new one. (machinist's perspective LOL)

Given a choice of my welding, filing, etc, vs. my machining, I'd go with machining a new one since I'd probably spend less time making a new one.

Thanks fella's

all great advice, I think I will go with the brazing idea, I have all the necessary gear in the shop and don't have to go anywhere. Just out of curiousity.....how much does laser welding cost???????

I've never looked into it.

and what kind of flux should I use for brazing....?

Sean

I am with Chuck, make a new one (and I'm a welder). If you are going to repair I would TIG weld it. I is easy relatively inexpensive and probably readily available. Silver Braze or Brass Braze are possible and are likely to work if done right but are no way as strong as a weld. I personally think brazing is more difficult to do properly. I'd bet I could make a new part in about as much time as a repair. It all comes down to what is most available to you.

Bill G.

I'd use small dia flux coated brazing rod- the cleaner you can get the two mating surfaces, the better- neutral flame and ONLY oxy-acetylene (no MAPP or Propane) and I would "pin the broken halves" on a fixture to insure proper alignment and minimum of post-braze grind- everytime you grind a welded joint, you weaken it somewhat. However, I also agree with those who felt you could machine a new part from mild steel faster if you have the proper tooling- drill press, milling cutters, grinders-whatever.

RWTF,
seems i have seen several posts by you with great detail on welding. is that what you do? I worked Electric Boat, Groton CT; Tridents for a while. SMAW, TIG, Numerous MIG processes, Sub Arc, twin arc, mostly on HY 80, HTS, alloys. All the stuff in a sub.Now all I do is TIG in my shop and lately havent had much chance to do that!!!

Thanks Brian, what a nice change from the usual "crap-fest" I encounter herein. Yes- I started with Lincoln Electric welding machines and SMAW (stick rod) in my GrandFather's machine shop in Ohio at about 14-welding up bases for die sets, etc. Learned to use the oxy-acetylene torch for soldering, brazing and welding, which was best start for the later on TIG process, controlling the puddle in the HAZ and using the filler rod. Before Lincoln developed the "Shield-Arc" process in the 1920's, most schedule pipe was welded with the oxy-acetylene process.

The military, especially the USAF and the Navy have about the best welding programs going- and anyone who qualifies for Sub and especially Nuclear Sub code welding is at the "Top of Their Game", in my book. I welding to API and AWS codes before I retired about 3 years ago, but teach part-time GED welding classes two nights/week- Oxy-SMAW-MIG and TIG. I belong to the AWS and keep up on their data- but the many other welding processes- Spray, Plasma, copper electrode "spot" welding" and others are not my "forte"- I learned from the "old hands" and also at Lincoln Electric in Cleveland-but just like the double guns that arouse both so much interest, as well as controvery and "head-banging" posts here, no one person can know it all-there is just too much to learn, and like a flowing river, always changing. RWTF