Thread: Silver Solder or Braze

Originally Posted by onebob

Have you considered AN compression fittings? - just need a hacksaw and spanners to attach them to the pipes.

This is exactly what I am using. I have to weld an AN fitting to the steel pipe coming from the auto.

I have got the cooler with AN fitting.20230420_152234 - Copy.jpg

Originally Posted by rick130

Another couple of notes on silver brazing.

Custom, lugged steel bike frames are silver brazed, the ones using really exxy Reynolds or Columbus steel, so it's strong.

And a little vanity, this is a braze joint on a $1000+ electronic expansion valve, admittedly not steel, but stainless steel to copper using 45% silver rod. Stainless can be nasty if you overheat it, even just slightly. I wasn't going for super flash, this was a field repair and I was going for quick as I didn't want the system open for too long but you can be quick and neat when you have your flame and heat right.
IIRC it was either 1,3/8" or 1,5/8" tube?

I took a photo to send to all our techs to show that a) the old bloke can braze and b) this is the standard I expect from them all
Scarry can confirm that a lot of tradesman's brazing these days looks like bird poo.

Attachment 185242

So who did it for you, young Rick?

Originally Posted by d2dave

This is exactly what I am using. I have to weld an AN fitting to the steel pipe coming from the auto.

I have got the cooler with AN fitting.20230420_152234 - Copy.jpg

Yes, I understand, my cooler has AN fittings too and rather than welding / brazing / soldering on AN fittings to the autotrans pipes, my approach is to use compression type AN fittings on those steel pipes, they grip on pipe and are a viable option in our application and less mucking around too. Apologies if you you were already aware of them but are not a fan of them.
Cheers

Originally Posted by onebob

Have you considered AN compression fittings? - just need a hacksaw and spanners to attach them to the pipes.

Originally Posted by d2dave

This is exactly what I am using. I have to weld an AN fitting to the steel pipe coming from the auto.

I have got the cooler with AN fitting.20230420_152234 - Copy.jpg

Bob is suggesting non-welded compression fittings like Swagelok, Parker, etc. Fittings | All Products | Swagelok
They work well and would be fine at the pressures the cooler line sees.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

So who did it for you, young Rick?

Had another birthday last month
Time marches on.....

I do a LOT of odd hydraulic lines, 99 times out of 100 with silver solder them.
If done properly, no dramas with 1" + lines running at 6000psi.

Originally Posted by onebob

Yes, I understand, my cooler has AN fittings too and rather than welding / brazing / soldering on AN fittings to the autotrans pipes, my approach is to use compression type AN fittings on those steel pipes, they grip on pipe and are a viable option in our application and less mucking around too. Apologies if you you were already aware of them but are not a fan of them.
Cheers

Thanks onebob and Rick 130. No I was not aware of these fittings. Handy to know.

I might grab one and throw in the spares box as it could be used if a weld fails.

As my box of AN stuff has arrived in the mail with a weld on fitting I will stick with that.

I have just now come in after removing the pipes to do the weld.

If I ever meet the German who designed the ZF I am going to punch him in the nose for putting one of the cooler outlets almost on top of the auto

What a mongrel that was to undo.