Welding Wire

[ccracin]

I am definitely out of my mind, but that is for a different thread. Here is what got me started. This is by Ron Covell.
http://metalshapers.org/101/covell/c...ilbronze.shtml
It absolutely does not have the strength that carbon steel does. As with all things, I believe in the correct application it would have some advantages. I would not use it on anything structural. But, for some body mods I think it would do a nice job. IE. Filling door handles holes, parking light holes, smoothing firewall, etc. I also read that body shops are moving this direction when welding high boron sheet metals. This material is heat treated and supposedly using the silicon bronze reduces the heat input and does not affect the material properties as much as carbon steel filler. I'll get some pictures shortly of what I am doing.

[tom091074]

Here is a site I found that might help. I have not tried it yet but I'm looking forward to the challege. Good luck.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/brazing.htm

[GregWeld]

If my welding looked like that -- I'd switch to glue.

[ccracin]

Thanks for the link Tom. As Greg implied, that wasn't what I expected from a "Welding" site. In the time since I started this thread, we stepped up to a TIG machine. I gotta say, I may never have looked at this route if we had a TIG sooner. I did use some of the silicon bronze wire in the MIG and have to say, the results were much the same as in the link. I do think it has it's place. i want to play with the TIG and Silicon Bronze filler. I think that will have some definite benefits. We will see. I just have very little time for messing around right now.

[Big-Head]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

If my welding looked like that -- I'd switch to glue.

[GregWeld]

Chad --

I've been using some silicone bronze rod for TIG on the firewall and inner fenders on my BIL's '69 Camaro... this is non structural "flattening" panel from DSE.... and I've been filling some small holes this way as well. Takes very little heat but frankly - I really prefer welding this stuff - even if it takes a bit o'bondo to flatten. I'm afraid of it cracking... even though it's welding - not brazing - it still doesn't seem like it's very strong. We'll see. The good news is he can't demand a refund (what do you want for free? Your money back?) and he can't fire me. It does grind off super easy!

[GriffithMetal]

Silicon-bronze is great in non-structural welds. You shouldn't be really melting the parent material when using it. It's good for fillet welds and lap welds. I have heard of problems with body fillers not sticking but that could have been some misidentified brazing. I like to use it to fill in areas that will be powdercoated. It can also be used around header flanges to add some strength to the joint. Mig welding with it always seemed to produce an ugly weld. Oh and it's expensive!
This is Ron Covell's take on the subject. http://metalshapers.org/101/covell/c...ilbronze.shtml