Home brazing?

[Greybeard]

I'm thinking of making a carrier for my bike. I''ve done brazing in the past using OxyAcetyline cylinders. Is it possible to do a good job with the hobby gas I've seen in DIY stores?

[Bsareg]

I've  used a Spitfire (or is is Splitfire) torch with Mappgas for brazing. Don't think it's a big enough for frames though. But ok for small tube.

[RichardL]

By the time you've paid for enough Mapp gas and oxygen (mostly oxygen) to make one yourself, you probably could buy a good one.

Richard L.

[Greybeard]

I've got a large plumbers type torch fed from a gas cylinder that could provide general heat. Maybe the hobby gas torch would cope with the brazing.

[morris]

I gave up on that cheapo hobby stuff. Professional tools may be a bit more expensive but saves you a ton on frustration 

[Greybeard]

I used to have a small ox-acetylene BOC set. It was very handy. The cost of cylinder rental was just too much for the occasional use I made of it. I bought a cheap MIG welder when I was working on my sons Land Rover. For something like a luggage rack brazing is much nicer than welding. I suppose I could consider silver solder but would that be strong enough?

[Joolstacho]

MAPP Gas is excellent for brazing and silver soldering.

[RichardL]

Yes it is Jools, but buying the accompanying oxygen, which flows faster, costs more, and is in small no-economy-of-scale hobby bottles, gets pricey fast in a big job.

GB,

Are you building a bicycle carrier or a motorcycle carrier.

Richard L.

[Joolstacho]

Maybe we're talking at cross-purposes here Richard.
The MAPP GAS we use here in Oz needs no oxygen, Just comes in a handy small bottle. It's not what we call oxy-acetyline which needs acetyline gas PLUS oxygen. 'Oxy' -used for gas-welding, which MAPP Gas won't do. Typically MAPP is the plumbers tool of choice. Mostly comes in a bottle approx 1 foot long x 3 inches (to use your language!).
Great for bronze welding/brazing and silver soldering. Some people are calling it a 'hobby gas' but you won't find a professional plumber who doesn't use it!
But it's not hot enough for steel welding.

[Joolstacho]

GB I reckon that brazing depends on the quality of the joints. Brazing is not as good as welding if the joints are not very good. Brazing needs good contact of the parts, whereas welding can tolerate and 'fill' gaps.

[mikeb]

GB - you have a mig? i made a carrier for my B using mig. it was fast and fine, especially after attacking the inside of welds with a round file to make it look pretty. and its strong.
the hardest bit was accurate bending, but i assume you've got the method for that.
and then proper paint. i used a rattle can  which is just not hard enough.

[groily]

As Joolstacho said, I think confusion over the 'hobby' thing arises because in, eg, the USA you can buy a two-bottle baby set (I have the 'empties' from one of them somewhere), whereas in many places the yellow single MAPP / propylene bottle is the standard weapon. The two-bottle sets last no time flat as Richard L suggested.
You can get enough heat out of a MAPP bottle for light brazing, no problem. Wouldn't get a lug on a frame with one, you'd need  Oxy/Acetylene for that, but for 'odd jobs' MAPP is handy, easy to use and affordable compared to investing in the full monty.
It helps to have a decent flux-coated rods.
Plumbers here in France all  tend to go for the smaller Oxy/Acetylene sets on wheel - I bought my own one of them from a retiring plumber here. Very manoeuvrable. The cost of acetylene is quite something these days though!

[Greybeard]

Are you building a bicycle carrier or a motorcycle carrier.

For the new BSA

[Greybeard]

You can get enough heat out of a MAPP bottle for light brazing, no problem.

Thanks Bill, that's what I needed to hear.

[Greybeard]

GB - you have a mig?

I find it tricky to get a nice continuous bead. My excuses: I don't weld very often. The welder is a cheapo Machine Mart device. I have a self darkening welding helmet. I find, once the spark strikes, I cannot see where I'm going.