I’ve just brazed my first few 304 tubes for internal routing, and they turned out pretty good. But then I turned to brazing this 3d printed 316L part for a routing exit, the silver doesn’t flow into the joint like 304, is this a material thing?
I’ve got 56% silver filler and Harris flux, the chain stays are chromoly, and I’m brazing with a butane torch.
PS: don’t tell me to go find a proper brazing setup, it’s not practical here.
I had a similar issue when brazing up my latest frame. Also brazing 316L 3D prints.
A clean, bright, surface and fresh flux is essential. Heat management as well. Stainless sucks for heat transfer, so it’s extremely easy to overheat the cromoly and burn the flux while trying to get the 316 part up to temp.
I’ve never brazed with a butane setup, but if you’re struggling to get the parts heated evenly, I’m afraid that maybe the advice will be to get a proper brazing setup. Regardless of how practical it is.
Have you tried brazing 304? As far as I’m concerned they should be the same to heat up.
Is it possible that the difference is more to do with the printed material?
Maybe try and do all the things you’d normally do with brazing stainless even more. I.e avoid direct heat (use residual), more flux, more cleaning. Belt and braces, take no chances, just double down on everything and be prepared for it to try and fuck you over.
Only a best guess, haven’t brazed much of the printed 316L, been welding it though and it basically requires the approach above.