Date: Fri, 2 Dec 2005 21:11:02 EST From: Philcycles@aol.com To: Classicrendezvous@bikelist.org Subject: Re: [CR]Lugged frames v. fillet brazed..now v. bronze-welded
In a message dated 12/2/05 5:45:56 PM, norris@norrislockley.wanadoo.co.uk
writes:
>The aspect of this issue that vexes me, perplexes me, enrages me..is
>that I am pretty certain that there is no such thing as a
>"fillet-brazed" frame.
To which Phil added: I didn't feel the need to quote the whole thing but 2 points: first, what our British cousins call bronze welding is in fact brazing. Second, you can fillet braze a frame or any material. By definition welding involves melting of the base metal to be joined, usually with a filler. Brazing does not. Thus you can fillet braze a frame-no melting of the base metal-or weld it-melting the base material-with a gas or TIG torch. Phil Brown San Rafael, Calif.
Once again, Phil is on the money. Welding (with or without a filler, GTAW, GMAW, MAW, SMAW, etc.), by definition, involves fusing the base material. Brazing, by definition, does not. The only thing I would add is that brazing, again, by definition, occurs above about 800 degrees F (or is it 600 - I forget!), so a bicycle frame is never "silver-soldered." Jewelry, copper plumbing, and electrical connections are soldered, but not bike frames! Brazing is done above the maximum temperature for soldering, hence it ain't soldering.
Alles klar?
Greg Parker
Ann Arbor, Michigan