Alternative to oxy /acet

[oggy]

Can anyone tell me a good alternative to oxy/ace for aluminium brazing . I use oxy / ace at work but also work for myself from home. I dont fancy having acetylene at the end of the garden. At the min im using a rothenberger kit but it doesnt last long enough for the price. Its only small work brazing aluminium nuts for banjo bolts onto oil coolers. Ive thought about oxy/propane but unsure on what sort of set up id need etc. What torch would i need? . i dont want a huge flame but something im in control of. Anyone point me in the right direction to a dealer who sells a full oxy/propane set up. Thought of tig welders too but a bit out of my price range at the minute i would think.

cheers trev

 

[hotrodder]

Probably the easiest/cheapest solution would be to ditch the disposable O2 for a refillable to end up with something along the lines of the Portaflame set up. Links i've posted in the past are no longer working but pic here... http://www.yell.com/b/HUNTER+TOOL+CO-Tool+Suppliers+and+Services-Godalming-GU71NT-786546/photos-video.html?media=3 Adams gas have agents around the country, 9 litre O2 is around £25 + VAT, deposit instead of rent and (if they are still filling to 130bar) should be the equivilant of around 11 or 12 disposable Rothernberger oxygens. O2 from somewhere like Energas might be cheaper still, several companies listed in the gas suppliers section that don't service the SE where i am

Propane is slightly heavier on O2 mixture wise than MAPP. Some torches can be optimised for brazing with acetylene alternatives with a change of mixer and nozzles but generally it's just the fuel reg and hose that differ (propane can rot acetylene hoses and visa versa). Most places will sell oxy propane sets, many times they're geared more towards heating/cutting but lightweight brazing kits also exist

 

[oggy]

cheers for that. so i can keep my rothenberger kit but do away with the disposable o2 ? & get myself a refillable bottle instead ?. If thats the case thats a lot cheaper than the £31 a time im paying at the minute. would the rothenberger pipe still fit a refillable ? thanks for your help.

 

[hotrodder]

Refillable O2 cylinder will require a proper oxygen regulator which'll be 3/8" BSP outlet. I don't know what fittings the Rothenberger uses, might be easy to sort with hose couplers/replacement O2 hose, might not be. The Hunter tools link in my last post... they sell their kits with or without cylinders so you could buy a new torch with the correct hoses, check valves,flashbacks and regulators and sell your Rothenberger on as a complete kit. Depending on how much the Hunter torch kit costs might be cheaper to switch over to large propane too

I know the disposable O2 bottles last no time at all but how frequently are you getting through the MAXI gas? They're about a fiver each, i'd say do the same comparison i did with the O2 but with the maxi gas versus a larger propane cylinder first

 

[oggy]

Ive emailed them about the portaflame kit . Just need to find someone local to me who can supply me the o2. At present ive used 3 bottles of o2 & still on my first can of maxi . so thats cost me £90 just for the o2.
thanks again for your help

 

[ColourweldUK]

Ive emailed them about the portaflame kit . Just need to find someone local to me who can supply me the o2. At present ive used 3 bottles of o2 & still on my first can of maxi . so thats cost me £90 just for the o2.
thanks again for your help

Based on what you are using you should consider Air Products. They have an advanced yearly rental which works out at about £95.00 then you pay about £40.00 for a large Oxygen cylinder which would probably work out cheaper. Just a thought.

 

[oggy]

Thanks mate its worth considering. Ive just got to get myself set up with the kit then look around for my oxygen. The maxi gas is not a problem at the minute as i have a good stock of it. cant believe the price of the throw away o2.

 

[dannyp]

why not get a proper oxy bottel

50 ltr bottels are onlt £7 per month rental and 15.50 to fill +vat thats not going to run out in a hurry

 

[oggy]

once ive sorted the gear out i shall go for a bigger bottle. Been in touch with a local welding supplier about oxy/propane kits. He says he has everything i would need. I know the oxy/ propane is used for cutting so it must throw some heat out. What temp does it get upto ? hot enough for brazing aluminium ? For most of the brazing at work i use a no7 tip with oxy/acet would i get a flame close to this with oxy/prop ?
sorry so many questions I just dont want to waste cash if it will be no good.

cheers

 

[hotrodder]

Oxy propane is more than hot enough (around 300C less than O/A) but it actually kicks out more BTUs with most of the heat produced in the outer cone.

The common line of oxy propane not being hot enough to weld steel isn't strictly true (although the heat spread of the flame doesn't help), it's more about flame chemistry as with O/A you get a 'shielding' effect from the outer feather which gets it's O2 from the surrounding air. When brazing this is less of an issue due to the flux, similar story with welding ally as flux is needed anyway.

The MAPP gas in the Rothenberger kit is kinda half way between O/A and oxy propane, article is about cutting but more on the different flame properties/characteristics here... http://www.twi.co.uk/content/jk49.html

 

[oggy]

Thats a great bit of info thanks. I'll go down his shop & see what he has to offer Mainly to see what torches he has .
thanks again