Brazing

Brazing is a process that uses filler material to join two workpieces together. The main difference between brazing and other welding processes is that the filler material has a lower melting point than the materials being joined together. It is therefore the filler material that is melted to form the joint between the two workpieces, as opposed to the workpieces themselves. In this way, brazing is extremely similar to soldering, although it provides a much stronger bond between the materials.

A torch is used to heat the filler material to its melting point, where it flows in between the two workpieces, before cooling and becoming a solidified joint. A range of filler materials can be used within the brazing process, including aluminium, copper alloys, silver and nickel alloy. As the base material remains solid during brazing, it is a great option for fusing two different material grades together.

The resulting joint is very robust; however, due to the fact that the filler materials have a relatively low melting point, brazing is not suitable for joining components that will then be subjected to heat within their end application. Brazing is great for high precision work, as tight tolerances can be adhered to; however, it is generally only suitable for smaller-scale work - larger joints may require an alternative joining/welding process to be effective.