Blacksmithing for Beginners - Brazing In The Fire - A Closer Look

Blacksmithing for Beginners - Brazing in the fire - A Closer Look.
The theory and the process of brazing in the fire is explained in detail.

[@gateway8833]

Thats very interesting and very useful. As my son and I were watching this my son commented "Dad, you told me you needed to flux welds, why hasn't he done" and at that exact moment I see the spoon of flux and your commentary and I replied "Look, he heard you" made me laugh.

[@df-intheshop330]

I do try to anticipate the questions people are going to ask but that was well timed. LOL

[@al9094]

About flux ? It stops oxidations why is it not used in forging after or during heat up for shaping. and yes I'm new like still in the box new to this. lol

[@df-intheshop330]

First of all the scale that forms because of the oxidation isn't usually a problem. It just falls off at the anvil and doesn't affect the work in any way. So adding another step to the process as well as another expense would be a waste. Secondly adding flux really speeds up the formation of clinkers in the fire. The flux turns the forging scale into a thin liquid that drip off the work and into the fire. There it combines with the ash and anything else that will melt and it forms clinkers ( crude form of glass ) that settle down around the air grate and begins to shut down your fire. That is assuming you are using a solid fuel fire. In a gas forge the flux drips down and starts to degrade the lining of the forge greatly reducing its life.

[@dicksargent3582]

The advantage of using brass instead of copper is the melting point. Brass melts at its highest temp around 1720 F where copper melts at 1981 F. The higher temp of copper extends the time of scale forming on the steel thus making it harder to get a securely brazed joint. That 260 degrees can make a big difference in scale formation, especially on pieces with large cross sections. Also since scale starts to form on steel at or just after the critical temperature is reached the flux should be introduce to the joint as early as it will begin to melt. Hope this helps. Thanks for your vids.

[@cholulahotsauce6166]

I wonder if you could shoot using a welding shade as a filter. Obviously the colours would be fouled but you might get an even better video of the process. That being said, I know you don't want to risk your camera again.

[@df-intheshop330]

I'm thinking I might try it again this summer when I can set up my portable forge outside. Filming in direct sunlight instead of inside a dark hood will allow to camera to get the right exposure. There is a manual feature on this camera but figuring that out will take longer than waiting for summer.LOL

[@ronsites2694]

Thanks Dennis for another informative video.

[@BigWillSD]

very awesome!! I love your videos.

[@cornbin2]

thanks again DF for making a great video, i learn something every time!

[@TalRohan]

thankyou for taking the time to film the melting in process, even having done it many times myself I haven't ever seen it close up like that...very interesting to watch

[@garethbaus5471]

I remember my first time trying this, it worked, and I made the world's ugliest poker.

[@demastust.2277]

Would it be a good idea to chisel nicks on the faces of the surfaces you wish to braze together, what for better connection. Ya know, sorta like how you score the clay and then use slip?

[@williampratt4791]

Dennis, Excellent video work on the slo mo brazing

[@edgarderschmied4497]

Very good explained, thanks for that! Its a great help!

[@Dorpers89]

If you were to notch a dip in the piece at the joint so that the copper filled the indent like a bowl would you get a better fill and hold?

[@vizprave6721]

wait a minute isn't brazing supposed to be done with brass which is a zinc-copper alloy and not just copper?

[@df-intheshop330]

Brazing rod does have a lower melting point than copper but all the old guys i worked with used copper because it was so much easier to get in different sizes and the tensile strength is similar.

[@oxbowfarm5803]

Great video. Much better footage of the copper melting than in your last brazing video.

[@df-intheshop330]

That's good to hear because I'm not doing that again - my camera was starting to melt from being to close to the fire.

[@oxbowfarm5803]

Someone needs to design refractory cameras for blacksmith KZbinrs.

[@loul7239]

Thank you, I've been waiting for this insight.

[@hotironforge1385]

Interesting never saw this method before. Will have to try it sometime

[@nightschoolblacksmith6219]

Thank you, you have just solved a problem I have!!

[@dylanholderman]

thank you this is exactly what i was looking for!

[@artisansportsman8950]

Interesting

[@trollforge]

Great video Dennis! Have you ever experienced "Copper fouling" in your forge? When I was starting out, many years ago a few of the old guys who were teaching me said to never get copper in your forge or you would not be able to weld unless you completely clean out you forge, so I never tried brazing in the forge.

[@df-intheshop330]

Not that I'm aware of but when I started out I had so much trouble with it anyway - for a time I wouldn't weld if a crow was sitting on my neighbor's house. LOL. I've had other people ask me about that and I am planning on doing a video on it.

[@trollforge]

Darned crows!!!

[@df-intheshop330]

That is - I'm planning on doing a video on copper fouling up a forge weld not crows fowling up a weld.

[@trollforge]

LOL, I laughed so hard it brought tears to my eyes...

[@scottleft3672]

crows turn up when a cement mixer is switched off....they know its smoko....pretty savvee.