I’ve always brazed my cable/hose guides per tradition. Is there any reason not to TIG them on with a tack at each end? It would definitely be faster.
The downsides I can think of are aesthetic, and possibly creating a stress riser with just the one or two bead tack.
Am I missing something?
There is no issue with this at all. Though you will need more than a tack on each end, at the very least you’ll need a fusion weld running the length of the guide on both sides.
The tube wall is thinner in the middle of the tubes, so it’s easier to melt through. That’s the reason I’ve heard to avoid TIG, but I’ve had success welding my guides. I use .030” MIG wire to reduce the temptation of dumping too much heat in to melt the filler.
My first 2 frames I tig bronzed my guides on. Less heat.
This time I’m a using silver.
Do you use flux when TIG brazing?
You do not need flux when tig brazing.
Here is a video.
Thanks for the video link. I’m glad I watched it because at the end he says “don’t use bronze made for gas brazing”, which is exactly what I would have done!
I TIG braze those things. Yes you could tack them with weld but I usually don’t like to put weld anywhere the tube isn’t specifically thickened like at the butted ends etc. The exception is I do weld v-brake posts rather than braze them just because you know brakes, safety. I’m sure brazing would be fine though.
That will make a lot of smoke and a nasty mess! I use SIFSILCOPPER 968 rods (but that may be a UK thing). You want silicon bronze that is meant for TIG.
