Phosphor copper welding rods

[jscarmozza]

Can phosphor copper stick welding rods be used to join mild steel, in other words, can it be a substitute for torch brazing?

[Bill Shields]

no...

[jscarmozza]

Bill, they're phosphor bronze rods, is the answers still no?
John

[Bill Shields]

Yes...no....the phosphorus is the non steel key word..

[Steggy]

Can phosphor copper stick welding rods be used to join mild steel, in other words, can it be a substitute for torch brazing?

They might work with brazing, though I've not tried it. The flux you use will probably be a major factor in whether or not you are successful.

Question is, why braze the steel instead of weld it?

[jscarmozza]

BDD,I'm making the frame for Kozo's Hiesler in 1" scale. Rather than use brass bars for the frame, as he did, I used cold rolled steel but still intended to silver solder the joints, however, the fit was not tight enough so I MIG welded them and ground the welds flat before applying the gusset plates over the joints. Kozo silver soldered the gussets in place then drilled them to install decorative rivets. I glued the gussets in place then drilled them to install drive screws to simulate rivets, but it didn't work out the way I thought it would. I had big problems drilling the hard welds with #54 drill bits, broke a lot of bits. So I thought I'd start over and braze the joints to eliminate drilling into the hard welds, and I thought the Phos-bronze rods might have been a better way. John

[Harold_V]

Look in to silicon bronze rod. It's very capable of being used as you wish, and has adequate strength. It's commonly used in TIG brazing.

H

[Bill Shields]

Welcome to the world of heat affected zones and hard spots.

Silver solder is the way I would go...lowest heat required and will flow...or brazing rod with borax flux...but that does not flow as well as silver solder and you are likely to get a fillet in the corner where you do not want it.

Not familiar with the finished product, so cannot offer better ideas.