Which torch for durafix

[knoxy]

Hi, orderd some Durafix rods for brazing my intercooler ports up, i follow the guide on there website ect saying that the metal must be hot enough to melt the rods, trouble is the torch im using isnt hot enough, or so i think. Its taking forever and the alloy just wont turn molten on contact no mater now long a leave the torch on the metal itself

Its a cheap crappy thing from machine mart so im wanting to upgrade ect anyone got an idea of what is perfect for this durafix welding?

 

[madkayaker]

i have used a MAPP blow torch before and that worked well on 3mm ali. leave it to long and it will melt the base material

 

[knoxy]

Where would i find this type of torch

 

[madkayaker]

B&Q Screwfix or plumbing merchants

 

[knoxy]

Had a check about, seems to go for around 65 quid witch i think is dear tbh, ill check to see if i could find them cheaper

 

[pedrobedro]

I have one of these on a Mapp gas cylinder and it will melt aluminium so should get hot enough to do your brazing. The cylinder was about £13 last time I got one.

 

[knoxy]

I have an old nozel witch was used for soldering copper pipes for plumming, i dug it out and the fitting is different then the type on my small torch, im sure its for those gas cylinders

The type im using just now is a propane/butane can you buy from halfords, the self sealing type almost the same as camping stove gas cans

Is mapp gas hotter then these types?

 

[shenion]

MAPP gas is hotter than propane or butane.

Here, the disposable propane bottles are the same size/fitting as the MAPP gas ones. I have a torch designed for both, but I have seen people use propane torches with MAPP gas. Works, but probably not ideal.

I use MAPP gas when using aluminum brazing rods.

 

[pedrobedro]

The Mapp gas burner I showed you on ebay is the one I use and it is a lot hotter than my propane torch. I use it for freeing stuck nuts as well but it is a different fitting to the Parasene type torches which use camping stove cans.

 

[alarming entertainment]

I use a bernzomatic torch with either propane or mappro.... but they're quite costly. There are some Bullfinch torches available though...

 

[drjim]

Will a standard propane blowtorch do the job?

 

[alarming entertainment]

it all depends upon the mass of the aluminium you're trying to weld... the key to easyweld is the ability to bring the work up to temperature, so the rods melt on the aluminium and NOT in the flame... so the thicker the piece of work, the more intense the heat source needs to be. Generally speaking, mappro is the recommended for the majority of jobs, propane is still fine but has a lower burn temperature.... and then you get into the realms of oxy-acetylene etc.
hope that helps