Bullfinch auto torch LPG bronze brazing system
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- čas přidán 22. 08. 2024
- Shows what this little LPG torch can do with the 404 kit.
NOTE: Only Australian sourced Bullfinch Auto Torch Brazing kits will connect to the shared USA and AU gas cylinder POL fitting. UK and Irish POL fittings use a non compatible thread form.
Camera: Nikon Coolpix L820
Note: The flux used in the video is EZI-WELD 303 brazing and bronzing flux. This flux allows hot rod dipping/application and freehand torch work. The rod used is BOC ProFill manganese bronze. DO NOT try to use silicon bronze rods with this torch.
How the Bullfinch burner works is shown on the following web page: www.adelaidehillsgas.com.au/service/bullfinch-brazing-kit/
Cheers Rob
yes ,I went with the replacement regulator"LPG regulator / Flow meter - LPG Heating / welding - 0 - 450 KPA - Omega OMELP35"comes Complete with 5mm Male barb fitting.complies with Australian Standards. Compatible with all standard LPG gas cylinders.$67au from my local welding store.another lesson when buying overseas for shore. thanks for your advice rob,have watched your channel for a while now.good stuff.
Hi Geoffrey,
Good to hear you got it sorted relatively cheaply. The POL look the same, but the UK (and Ireland) is very odd in that it uses a different thread form (same TPI) to virtually the rest of the world.
Cheers Rob
Fantastic video, thank you. You answered a lot of my questions in a simple yet comprehensive manner.
Nice job, Rob! I have done a fair amount of brazing with oxy/gas. For thin stuff, like what you were using, it's the way to go. Less heat input so less chance of burning a hole in your work or warping it. I also do not like prefluxed rod. It seems the flux absorbs moisture and if you don't handle it carefully, the flux can break off. On small stuff, like your project, I think it's just as strong as welding. You could see a slight ring of bronze on the other side, so capillary action did its job and made an excellent joint. Thanks for sharing.
Regards,
Dave
Hi Dave. I think a lot of people steer clear of bronze brazing because they think it's difficult to do, and expensive to get set up. But it's not really, provided you stay away from oxy/acet and the rental rip off. This gun pays for itself after one year of oxy rental. I like brazing because it's non intrusive/non erosive, and can be stronger than a bead weld as it capillarates between surfaces for a complete bond. Cheers Rob.
There is also bronze Tig welding. It is probably somewhat hotter than brazing but it is cooler than stick or Tig welding. But it is also less strong. However it is a good option for work that you cannot heat up sufficiently with your torch. I remember that the last time I checked the bullfinch 404 torch was prohibitively expensive. Like £150 ! For that you get a 250 amp DC arc welder these days plus a Tig torch with cables and hose and a argon bottle filling (without one time payment for steel bottle) and you can do lift arc TIG welding.
great vid, got the gear with no idea but now i,m ready to rumba cheers
Just got a #4105 burner for the Bullfinch today that extra heat really makes a difference, Best $82 i have ever spent,
Good to get some feedback Jimo.
That's the only burner I've ever used on the torch, and was the best one for the job, according to the agent.
It's the basis of their bronze brazing kit, so it must be good.
Cheers Rob
Jimo, did you have a chance to compare 4105 and 4104 burner. Is the bigger one really less concentrated flame than medium size. Which works better for bronze brazing? Thanks.
Hi Rob
Interesting process ... I just made myself a kind of small oven to preserve the heat in and around the object - I would have expected I could heat up the whole project and let the bronze "run by itself" - I'll try take a video next time.
BTW, I use propane two and a small torch for burning weeds !
Hi Keld. I like to bronze free hand as in the video. That was about as big a job as the torch can easily do (metal mass wise). For larger jobs I either use a small brick hearth to contain the heat, and/or I also use my other big plain propane burner to boost the Bullfich - extra preheating. Makes quite a difference on what is possible.The Bullfinch is fantastic for brazing carbide tips onto tooling.CheersRob
Awesome videos
Thanks!
I have to buy one of these torch. The pressure from the thank is much higher than the one from a small bottle.
If I had to to something like that, I would place the paste all around the hole and remove the excess, cut some small part on the long rod and place them équidistant distance one from the other. Heating from under, the melting is cleaner and you can see the progression of the brazing from the top without being disturb by the flame. I do that when i need to join the 2 parts of a ring. It's a jeweller's method of working.
Thanks for showing.
Thanks for the tip. I have used that method a few times, and it would have worked well here. Didn't think of it. Rob
Hi Robert. This torch operates at 4 bar pressure and requires a large capacity bottle. Rob
"The pressure from the thank is much higher than the one from a small bottle."
Sorry to inform you, the boiling point of a liquefied gas, does not change just because you have it contained in a larger or smaller cylinder. Provided the temperature of two differently sized cylinders of lpg is the identical, so will be the pressure. See pressure/temperature relationship.
djpaulk It's only faster I believe.
Robert Patoine Faster? Please elaborate. Are we talking about bottle size still? It does not matter how fast gas can be released from the cylinders valve when there is a 4bar regulator attached. What Rob means when he says "requires a large capacity bottle" is the regulator has pol style fitting to go to the standard 9kg bottle. The torch would perform equally well with a 4bar reg and a primus or companion style fitting to go on a, say 1.25kg portable cylinder. If you read a MAPP gas cylinder it says, 3x faster heat transfer than propane, so I do exactly know what your referring to as being faster. I think you mean cheaper.
I was just waiting for that flux jar to start melting lol
Rob,
Very nice job. I'll be looking for one of those torches. Thanks for sharing.
Did you know the hottest part of that flame is about 6 inches from the nozzle,
Hold the flame further away for more heat and a faster braze.
Not with a Bullfinch torch. This is NOT a Bunsen burner or regular gas torch like they showed you at skool ;)
@@Xynudu my sievert brazing gun on my promatic is.
And I left school 45 years ago lol.
Hi Rob, firstly your videos are excellent. I am in the UK and just about to order this torch, you have to buy the burners seperae over here. Could you tell me if the burner you use is small medium or large please? 4103 small , 4104, medium and 4105 large many thanks if you do get time to answer.
Hi Berty,
It uses the 4104. This gives the correct tight flame pattern needed for brazing.
Cheers Rob
@@Xynudu Many thanks Rob for the speedy reply, keep up the good work.
G'day Rob, just bought one of these burners, very impressive piece of kit. Just a question, what burner tip are you using? Mine came with a 4103 (small), just wondering if a larger tip means more heat output or just the same heat output over a larger area.
Cam
Hi Cam, for bronze brazing Bullfinch recommend the 4104 tip. See the kit spec; bullfinch-gas.co.uk/blowtorches/autotorch-brazing-sys/autotorch-brazing-kit-detail
That is what I use. The larger the burners go, the more BTHU output, but the fluffier/larger the flame pattern. OK for general heating, but you want a tight concentrated flame/heat for brazing.
Interestingly Bullfinch and Hampdon in WA both specify the 4103 as suitable for bronze brazing, so your torch should be OK depending on job size. Hampdon also specify the 4104 and 3 as suitable for silicon bronze brazing. Very odd, as I have tried this and it's a no go rod. Basically meant for TIG. So something not right there from my experience. Not the first time I've got incorrect advice from the "experts", including BOC.
For ferrous metal I soley use uncoated BOC ProFill manganese bronze rods in 1.6 and 2.4 mm. They also do coated, but dip fluxing gives more control. Get them in the 0.5 kg red flastic packs for way lower stick cost. The best rod by far.
Cheap/ unbranded/ hardware stocked manganese bronze rods are mostly crap from my experience.
Anything goes with silver solder ;) It's all about the silver content.
You can buy the 4104 tip for $140 from Hampdon. They also sell 303 flux cheaply. Good store to deal with and fast, free delivery. Recommended.
Shoot some video to show the baby in action !!
Cheers Rob
Great thanks Rob, I did notice at one stage they sold a large burner (4105). It's no longer avalible. I will go ahead and order the 4104.
Cam
OK Cam. I would still be interested to see the performance difference between the 4103 and 4104 burners.
This web page shows how the burner works and lists technical info : www.adelaidehillsgas.com.au/service/bullfinch-brazing-kit/
That's the original importer I bought my kit from many years ago.
Cheers Rob
Nice job the Goulburn Valley flux container works well. :)
Yes, I find the Peaches in Mango juice work best. Rob
......IT APPEARS THAT THIS TORCH SYSTEM IS NOT SOLD IN THE U.S.A.!!! W.T.F.??!!!! WHAT KIND OF "FREE MARKET" B.S. IS GOING ON, HERE!!!???....
[BTW: GREAT DEMO VIDEO!!! THANKS MUCH!!!]
Yes, it's a very strange situation. Not sold in Canada either. I have no idea why . If you want one, buy it from an Australian seller as the AU and USA gas connectors (POL) are compatible. The UK one is not. Cheers Rob
@@Xynudu Thank you, I might order one very soon! Do you know it there are multiple tip sizes, for a variety of applications?.... I'd like to get several, if available! (for small/jewelry sized, or LARGE/Shop Projects)...! :D
This is the one I use and which is sold out of Australia: bullfinch-gas.co.uk/blowtorches/autotorch-brazing-sys/autotorch-brazing-kit-detail
These are the other available tips/components: bullfinch-gas.co.uk/blowtorches/autotorch-brazing-sys
I don't think this torch would be suitable for jewelry. You need a high temperature micro torch for that as I understand it.
Cheers Rob
We don't seem to have that product in the USA. Been catching your LPG braising vid's and admiring that torch.
I'm gobsmacked there's no USA or Canadian agent. These torches would sell like hot cakes.
If you do consider buying a torch be aware that the UK POL gas cylinder fitting will NOT fit USA gas bottles. AU and USA are the same but UK is not. My advice is to follow other USA viewers such as oldBRATTrider and get one from an AU supplier that will ship overseas. The company below is reliable and also sells on Ebay:
www.hampdon.com.au/
www.hampdon.com.au/?rf=kw&kw=Bullfinch+LPG+Autotorch+Brazing+and+Welding+Kit
These are NOT cheap units to buy but super handy for small jobs.
Cheers Rob
Wow, looks like $420 delivered. Looks like it's less than 1/2 that price from the UK. I have an oxy acet set in storage. One load of gas might last me a decade. Do keep your eyes pealed for me if you find a used set. Love to have one.
Continuing my thoughts, I see adapters from UK to USA are cheap. The UK thread looks like the left hand thread inside our new tank fittings. I bet it is different from what you say.
Here is the best price I've found so far. Under 200 US. But hard to tell which tip it includes. gasproducts.co.uk/bullfinch-233p-autotorch-propane-gas-blow-torch-kit.html
That's the wrong kit/torch for bronze brazing. The Bullfinch burner tips are also not interchangeable between all their grip styles. You need to have the 4100 handle/grip with the 4104 medium burner and high through put regulator.
I looked around for UK to USA converters but couldn't find any that were female UK POL to USA male POL. The POL threads are left hand/same size and pitch in UK and USA, but the thread profile is quite different and the UK fitting won't screw in.
I've never seen a secondhand kit come up for sale anywhere in Oz. They are not a common item due to the price.
Now that you can buy "D" sized oxygen bottles in Oz (and avoid the exorbitant rental) it is actually cheaper and probably better to invest in an LPG/oxy set such as the one below:
www.hampdon.com.au/oxygen-and-acetylene-brazing-kit
That's damn good value IMHO. I'd be sorely tempted to go that way now.
Cheers Rob
You may be able to get a female UK POL to USA quick release/bayonet type converter fairly easily - I didn't look into those.
Cheers again.
HI Rob, I know its been a few years since you've done this vid with the bullfinch torch but am wondering how it is going and whether it still continues to perform ok??? I also live in Adelaide and am just getting into doing some metal work and was looking into perhaps getting this torch to do some scrap metal sculpture art for brazing/heating (for forging/bending). I dont really want to outlay for oxy-acetylene plus like the portability of this, just wondering if you have had a chance to use the smaller nozzle/tip of this torch (wondering if it would be good for small craft or jewellery items or whether it would be too underpowered??) Have really enjoyed watching your videos - very simple and informative so thank you for posting them!
Hi Ruth, I've used the Bullfinch for about twenty years and it's a fantastic torch, especially for small bronze brazing work and silver soldering. It performs similar to the MAPP equivalent, for a fraction of the running cost.
I have only used the standard (middle sized) torch burner supplied as part of the Auto Brazing System. I have not tried the smaller 4103 or larger 4105 burner. The 4104 will easily do jewellery and craft. Here are the burner BTHU specs : bullfinch-gas.co.uk/blowtorches/autotorch-brazing-sys
The smaller 4103 is very low powered in comparison and I doubt it is what you require.
The Bullfinch kit is quite expensive and you can buy a new oxy/acet brazing kit for half the money, but the running costs are 10 time that of plain LPG. The oxy/acet will however be much better for sculpture work and forging which has a significant heat sink/loss. Now that you can purchase the bottles and avoid expensive rental it has become a lot more attractive.
This kit is very tempting and appears to be good value: www.hampdon.com.au/oxygen-and-LPG-brazing-kit
Be aware that you cannot weld with oxy/LPG and must use acetylene for that.
Hampdon also sell the Bullfinch kit.
Cheers
Rob
Thanks so much for that info Rob, I had a look online at that kit , I would also need to purchase flashback arrestors as well for it to run it safely wouldn’t I which would bring the price right back up?? A lot of the oxy portable brazing kits I have seen don’t seem to come with arrestors included ..I’m not sure why that is ? I love the idea of having different size tips as I would like to try some smaller brazing stuff and I’m assuming that oxy propane would run hotter than the Bullfinch torch? It’s tough when you are a beginner trying to work out which way to go!
Hi Ruth, yes you should use flashback arrestors with any oxygen boosted gas torch. One downside is that you have to wear UV eye filter protection wth oxygen torches and they restrict visibility a bit. Not necessary with plain LPG. Oxy/LPG runs way hotter than the Bullfinch (it will cut and melt steel) and that's why I've considered the Hampdon kit a few times. For occasional use when the Bullfinch can't do it, the kit makes a lot of sense.
The cost only gets exorbitant for extended use. The main factor is the oxygen as you will use 4 oxy to one LPG cylinders by weight. Crunch the numbers and it gets expensive, but still cheaper than acetylene.
You can boost the Bullfinch with a large plain LPG torch as well to overcome heat loss. It's not great juggling two torches, but gets the job done where just a bit more heat is required.
So think about how often you will use the torch and how big and small you need to go. Oxy boosted torches can be a bit severe/melt the job, but used correctly it will work out OK.
It's a bit like shooting an elephant or a rabbit - you need a different sized gun for each.
I like the Hampton kit as it's very capable and has a good range of tips. The grip is a bit short, but it shouldn't be an issue. Looks like a quality unit.
I hope this helps.
Cheers Rob
thanks Rob, lots to think about, not sure whether to go with a complete oxy/lpg setup as I would need to purchase all the bits and pieces - and may give more variablity in use for around the same price...but then stuck with oxygen costs on top...hmmm if I got a D size cylinder of oxygen to use maybe that might keep me going for a while?? Not sure how fast these torches go through gas???
Hi Ruth, it's a difficult choice. I can't comment on how fast a D size would last as I've only ever used the large cylinders, and it's hard to keep track of the hours. If you crunch the numbers it should last 1/4 the time of a 9 kg LP cylinder (4:1 oxy/LPG ratio), which is roughly 3 hours (for the Bullfinch) divided by four - approx 45 minutes continuous running.
This is variable depending on flame size, but I think it's around the mark. Being hotter it will get the job done faster than straight LPG, which will have a considerable bearing on usage cost.
Lots to consider and I wouldn't want to call it. For absolute coverage you can't go past oxy/LPG, but you just have to be prepared to wear the cost.
Cheers Rob
I enjoyed your demonstration and am interested trying out brazing .
Your LPG is it butane or propane?
Propane.
Thanks for posting this video. You mention the gas is LPG, is that propane, butane or a mix?
LPG (liquid petroleum gas) is much the same as propane and butane. Just a different name.
Hi Rob, I'm just in the process of building a small steam engine. I'm now ready to silver solder the crank flanges(brass) and main axle(silver steel). Although I've done plenty of welding I've never done any silver soldering.
Any ideas on type of silver solder and the type of flux to use?
Great video by the way. I've just treated my self to a Bullfinch torch.
I've mainly done manganese bronze brazing, so I'm not really the best person to ask. You may be better off asking at your BOC gas agent (if they are in NZ) but even those guys don't always know a lot.
From my limited experience with yellow tip, any low silver content rod will be fine for brass/copper, but for steel you definitely need to go to a much higher silver content rod for it to adhere. Those rods are very expensive, in line with the silver percentage.
The BOC guys should be able to advise you on the percentage from their rod spec sheets.
I've only ever used pink Borax based flux (EziWeld 303) same as for Manganese brazing. No issues there.
I hope this helps.
Cheers Rob
Another great video.
Hi Rob, Is the threaded pol section removable, or is the reg a one piece casting ? Cheers, Paul
Looks to have a pin through the regulator to allow change over. I'm not sure how these things disassemble, but I expect the pin comes out and you unscrew the centre tube section out of the regulator body to swap over the POL fitting. Rob
Do that to car fender if you can...
Hi Rob Can i braze aluminum like auto air condition pipe with this torch
Hi Gasper, it will braze anything that MAPP gas can braze (similar heat/temperature rages). I'm not familiar with brazing auto air conditioning pipe (which is aluminium from my limited observation). Oxidization is normally the issue welding/brazing aluminium and I have only ever seen screw fittings used with auto refrigeration applications.. It will certainly melt the pipe. Cheers Rob
Hi Rob. Bought the torch and 2mm rods. But the flux BOC (Richmond, Adelaide) sold me is white Easyflo flux paste. I think its general purpose and not specifically for bronze brazing. Trouble I'm having is (i) hot bronze rod goes "fizz" when you dip it in flux mid-job and comes out fluxless (melted off) and (ii) bronze occasionally runs as it should but more often it beads. It looks like a flux issue to me. I'm sure it's hot enough - metal is cherry red. Is it worth me getting 303 powder flux do you think?
+Jon Moore
Hi Jon,
The flux I use is general purpose, pink colour, and when you dip the hot rod in it sticks as a powdery coating.
Certainly the flux shouldn't melt off. They do sell a flux which you mix with water and put it on by hand as a paste - sure you don't have that ? Read the instructions and see what they say.
The bronze is beading because of not enough flux to clean the metal.
Yes, get some Eazie 303 if they still sell it - I've had mine for 20 years and the label has fallen off etc.
It's basically the same flux as you use for oxy welding with steel rod/wire. - ask for that (it's a dipping flux for sure).
The only flux made specifically for bronze that I know of is the wet with water/paste type - which I think you might have. That is used when you melt the job in a furnace - ie. lay bronze pieces and flux where you want it and then heat up the whole job to melt it.
Many people use that method, but you can't work freehand that way.
Cheers Rob
+xynudu Yes Rob maybe you're right. Now that I look again I see there are no directions on the bottle. Maybe it isn't for dipping. Here's a link to the stuff I have: www.boc.com.au/shop/en/au-boc-industrial-store/boc-easyflo-sb-flux-paste
I'm in the process of getting some Ezi-weld 303. I'll give it a try and let you know. Thanks for your help.
+xynudu Rob you're brilliant! The 303 flux has arrived and I've found it's alll about the flux! I'm now a champion hard bronze brazer. I paid $60 for one quick brazing job commercially a couple of years back. Half a dozen of those & I've paid for it - and I've already done 5!! Happy man. Thanks for your videos.
+Jon Moore
Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I was pretty sure you had the wrong stuff. Glad it all worked out OK.
Incidentally, if anyone want's to get hard bronze brazing done cheap, try your local radiator repair company. They also work with bronze, as well as solder. An engineering/welding shop will likely charge much more.
I had a job done years ago on a power steering pump housing, and it was only a few $$$s at the time - through the radiator repair shop.
But, nothing beats having your own torch.
Cheers Rob
+xynudu Thanks Rob. Another question. I'm re-joining some joints of a galvanised wire topiary frame. Brazing I know would not be the only way - or even best way - of going about this but that's how I'm doing it. I assume in the process I'm destroying the galvanising in the local vicintiy of the join?? I'll spray jonts with galv spray. Should I brush or wash these joints before painting. Any other suggestions?
Hi Rob, thanks for your video's I learn a lot.
Now on another brazing video, you mentioned the bullfinch will do up to 1" steel, is that solid or tube?
I just bought one of these Bullfinch brazing guns from EH Cambridge ($360 ouch!) but am having problems getting a 25mm nut brazed to a 10mm solid square steel, probably just too much heat loss, the hard brazing rod barely melt and forms blobs
any thoughts?
Eric
Eric Gunstone Hi Eric. That's at the limit of this gun, but I have done it. It depends upon how much mass is taking the heat away. 1" should be easily doable in tube. For solid you will probably need to give the Bullfinch some additional help with another plain LPG gun to boost/preheat it. That may sound like a bit of a cop out, but that's what I do. Also put the job in a small brick hearth to trap the heat or insulate it away from the vise. Heat loss is the enemy. The type of rod can also have a bearing on this. I generally use plain GP bronze rods, but have got some coated rods from Gasweld, and I find these do not melt as easily. I hope this helps Rob
Eric Gunstone Also, see how I do a similar job in this video: czcams.com/video/gsiOtYPny_k/video.html
xynudu
Thanks, your comment at it being at it's limit does help, I did try with an additional standard burner as well but still not much better, I have a refractory slab to work on, I got the job done but only just and the rod was not at all free flowing or pretty, I only have plain rods that the local gas supplier provided, hope there is only one type as I wouldn't know otherwise.
Eric Gunstone BTW, can you put too much flux on?
Eric Gunstone Yes, but it generally just makes a mess and is hard to clean off. Try the same rods on a smaller (potentially hotter) item to see if they flow better. Make sure to use the smallest diameter rods you can get - 2.3 mm. NOTE: To get maximum heat with the Bullfinch you should put the burner tip much closer to the job than a conventional LPG gun. And last point, for best results you should heat the area where the bronze is being applied, directly, not from underneath or such. Hope this helps. Cheers Rob
Excellent
Excellent video quality. What camera are you using?
Nikon L820 - still a current model and cost me $215 AU.
I have seen them secondhand for under $100 on Gumtree etc.
It also runs on four AA rechargables or ANY AA so that's a big bonus IMHO.
Cheers Rob
Thanks.
more road trips please
how strong this bronzing comparing to welding ? what max heat can it hold, is it applicable for stoves ?
Hi Dmitry,
It's extremely strong. It is only limited by it's melting point. Cooking ware is made of copper, so it should be OK for stoves.
Rob
hey man awesome video would I be able to braze aluminium with lpg?
You would need MAPP gas equivalent and some of those low temperature tin/zinc based rods sold on Ebay for aluminium. I doubt a normal LPG torch would get it hot enough - try it and see.
I did several videos on the rods a few weeks back.
Rob
nice gun, as good as oxyacetylene kit
+HDXFH
No, not as good as oxy, it can't handle big stuff, but very good for small bronze brazing of toolbits etc.
A handy and cheap to run torch. Better than MAPP gas.
Well worth the money.
Cheers Rob
Rob i tried to purchase the Bullfinch Autotorch Brazing System Kit (4104) from the UK and they told me they do not ship outside of the country, Do you have any idea where i can purchase this item ?
Michael Mikenleeds Hi Michael. There are definitely Ebay sellers/stores that do ship outside the UK, as members in the following forum have got them from the UK.
www.woodworkforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=65
Post the question in there and you should get some help. Also search back through the archive for the subject.
Be aware that the UK POL fitting (cylinder connector} is different to AU and possibly other countries.
In Australia the only agent is EH Cambridge and Co at Mt Barker South Australia.
www.ehcambridge.com.au/
They ship Australia wide,and possibly overseas.
I hope this helps.
Cheers Rob
How do you hold the spindle to take the chuck off that lathe?
Put the chuck key in one of the female chuck receivers.
@@Xynudu That will move the chick, but how do you hold the spindle from turning with it?
It's not a screw on chuck. It's a bolt on chuck, so the chuck and spindle are firmly locked together.
ok,cheers
Is that brass wire???
No. It is manganese bronze rod made for brazing.
hows it going rob,i just bought the bullfinch torch from England.model 2300.the connection does not fit to a standard lpg exchange bottle you get from bunnings.do you have any ideas for me,much appreciated,thanks geoff
Hi Geoffrey,
That's right, it does not fit the AU, NZ, or USA cylinder POL fitting (which are all interchangeable).
I have said this on numerous occasions in comments, on my videos about the Bullfinch torch, warning people what will happen if they buy from a UK or Ireland supplier.
There are two solutions - swap the POL taper fitting across from another appliance, or buy a replacement regulator with the AU POL thread.
The regulator MUST have the correct flow and pressure rating for the torch to work properly.
That model torch is not suitable for brazing.
Cheers Rob
so how did you fit yours to an au gas bottle????
I bought it in AU.
All torches sold in AU have the correct POL thread.
Rob
Yeah at 2-3x the cost. UKP104 plus freight or AU$380.
Hi, would you say that bullfinch torch would be suitable to fillet braze a bicycle?, the tubing in general is < 1mm but certain parts ( BB shell can be 2.5mm thickness) . You demonstrated in this video with up to 3mm steel parts, but typically for fillet brazing they use a lot more filler material ( like this coresites-cdn.factorymedia.com/bikemagic_new/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/16-Student-Brazing-better-than-some-of-the-pros.jpg)
Thanks
For that type of brazing you will need an oxygen boosted torch.
The Bullfinch would struggle with that amount of heat sink effect by the tubing - not recommended.
Cheers Rob
Would a TIG welder be a better option for this job?
Better in what way?
From what can gather(Im not experienced at braze welding)
better heat control and no messy flux is needed... and a excuse to obtain more tools :D
st170ish I've never used TIG. I think you may still need flux to clean the metal. Someone with TIG experience may be able to answer this. Rob
I dont think they use flux when brazing with a tig just need clean steel, the argon keeps the oxygen away. Check this guy "Jody" out if you haven't already seen his videos
www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/tig-welding-brazing.html
st170ish He's brazing, but he's making a fillet weld, not a capillary bond. Big difference. Torch and oven brazing heats the metal so that bronze flows between both faces forming a full bond that is mostly invisible from the outside. There is no bead as in the video. It's a totally different form of brazing. Cheers Rob
Hi Rob, thanks for many interesting videos! I have decided to get a brazing gun like this, but I am not sure what burner size(s) I should get for it. There are 3 different burners, a smaller and a larger in addition to the medium one (4104) that you have on your gun. Have you tried any of the other burner sizes? The small one seems a lot smaller, only 1.84kw of heat (the medium is 4.76). The large one seems only slightly larger with 6.16kw. However from the flame data that Bullfinch provides on their website it looks as if the large burner has a flame that is quite a bit wider and maybe doesn't concentrate the heat so well? Flame data can be found here if you are interested: bullfinch-gas.co.uk/blowtorches/autotorch-brazing-sys
Altmuligmannen The burner on mine is the only one that came with the gun, and is the one recommended for hard bronze brazing. It has a concentrated flame path similar to a MAPP burner, but slightly larger diameter, so overall BTHU is up a bit on that.
I haven't tried any of the other sizes.
I have seen the data on the other ones, and I think you can get a kit with all of them.
BTHU is not the full story, as flame concentration is the key issue - as you mention. You can get air assisted LPG guns with high BTHU, but the flame path is huge and wooly - no good for hand held brazing.
I would just go with the 4140, as that was the one the agent demonstrating the gun was pushing as the best for this sort of hard brazing work. I have had mine for about 15 years and it's excellent within it's capabilities.
Not cheap, but worth it. Definitely as good as, and slightly better than MAPP gas. Cheers Rob