There are over 400,000 welders in the United States. Welding, a trade that existed in the world for ages, is now becoming more and more of a side hobby. However, some industries still need and want people to weld brass. You can make many cool things with this activity, like outdoor decor, grills and even weapons. However, you should never go into it without the proper research. In this guide, you will learn the basics of brass welding, if it is easy to weld, the different techniques as well as how to do it.
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Is Brass Easy to Weld?
Welding itself is an activity that you must train for. It is dangerous. Without the proper techniques and safety gear, you can harm yourself. Experts recommend taking classes before diving headfirst into the wonderful world of welding. If you do not want to attend classes, we recommend not only watching or reading about it, but having a professional welder in your network to help you out with any questions or concerns you may have.
The easiest metal to weld is steel. When it comes to brass, it does not melt as easily as steel. Instead, it takes a longer period of time. Due to the presence of Zinc, you have to spend a lot of time getting the brass hot enough to bend. This means you will be spending time and effort getting it to where you want it to be. You also have to be careful not to overheat your brass, or it will become impossible to work with.
What are the Best Welding Techniques for Brass?
Now that you know that it is not easy to weld with brass, it is time to learn about the basic methods. There are three techniques you can use to weld brass.
- Gas Metal – The process where you find the right filler metal while normally welding brass, then you use a shielding gas to give you the ideal result.
- TIG – The process of using an AC power inverter with 30-second pulses per minute to weld.
- Oxyacetylene – The process of using oxyacetylene as your shielding gas.
Each technique has a similar process, but make sure to thoroughly research whichever one you decide to use.
How to TIG Weld Brass
TIG stands for tungsten inert gas, and welders use a non-consumable tungsten electrode to deliver a current to the welding arc. This method of welding is one of the most popular methods and the most enjoyable. Welders have more control and precision, making them a great option for projects with an odd or round shape. This technique is more expensive than the other two methods and has a learning curve.
The first step you will take is to make an arch between your base metal and the electrode. As you are welding, a molten brass pool will form at the arc. While you are working, you will insert a filler metal wire into the pool.
Also Read: How To Weld Cast Aluminum
While this is happening, the inert shielding gas will protect not only the molten metal but the tungsten electrode as well from oxygen. During this time, the welder will produce a slag-free weld that has the same corrosion resistance as the original metal. The shielding gas will cool and protect the brass. After that, you have your completed project.
The other two techniques have a similar procedure. However, they work better with straight-edged projects. They are also the more traditional methods.
Now that you know how to TIG weld, it is time to know about all the things you need.
Things You Need
While it is fun and interesting to weld brass, you cannot forget that it is also dangerous. Before you set foot in a workshop, make sure you have these items:
- Welding respirator
- Workboots
- Leather welding glove
- Welding jacket
- Welding helmet
- Fire extinguisher
You can find all these supplies either in-store or online.
The Equipment You Need
Now that you have the appropriate safety gear. It is time to list the equipment you need:
- Tungsten electrode
- TIG welding machine
- Torch
- Shielding gas
- Tungsten
- Ground clamp
- Filler metal
- Blowtorch
You can find all this equipment in-store or online.
What is the step-by-step process?
Since you have all the supplies ready to go, you are ready to start welding. Here is the step-by-step process you need to follow:
- Set up your working area
- Set up the welder
- Put on your safety equipment
- Check the foot pedal
- Clamp your brass
- Start welding
- Power off
As mentioned above, experts recommend attending welding classes before getting started. These are just the basic steps. An instructor will walk you through each step and give you the safety instructions as well. If you ever have any questions, please contact your instructor right away.
By following the guide above, you can start learning how to weld. Do you enjoy how-to and other informational articles? Then, you need to subscribe to our blog today. We go over a variety of industries and lifestyles.