1) ALWAYS WEAR EYE, HAND AND BODY PROTECTION:
Follow your employer's safety procedures and always use care when handling
torches. Read cautions on flux container and maintain copy of MSDS sheets.
Work in well ventilated area. Flux fumes can be hazardous.
2) CLEAN REPAIR AREA WITH STAINLESS STEEL BRUSH:
The Braze Perfect™ kit includes a stainless steel brush. Be sure the
entire repair area is free of all paint, grease, dirt and foreign matter.
The repair area must be brushed shiny clean with the stainless steel brush.
DO NOT USE CARBON STEEL or any other cleaning brush.
3) USE PROPANE OR NATURAL GAS TORCH ONLY:
That's right, you will be most successful using a bottle propane torch (just
like the ones you may use to repair plumbing in your home) than any other
torch. Propane or Natural Gas torches are cooler burning than acetylene/oxygen,
butane, MAPP gas or other torches that are generally used for brazing. Keep
in mind that the melting point of the aluminum base metal that you will be
brazing is very low. Most torches will burn through the base metal before
you get a chance to start brazing. This is extremely important when repairing
aluminum radiator tubes.
4) APPLY HEAT EVENLY; BE SURE TO HEAT THE ENTIRE REPAIR AREA AND KEEP
FLAME MOVING:
When brazing tubes (like air conditioning connections) or radiators, it is
important to apply the heat from the torch evenly and from all sides. It
is very easy to heat the front side of a tube joint and forget about the
back side. Be sure the heat is applied evenly and when flowing the Braze
Perfect™ filler metal, keep the torch moving so that you maintain the
desired heat without blowing through the base metal.
5) THE CHANGE IN FLUX WILL BE THE KEY TO START BRAZING:
The Braze Perfect™ aluminum brazing flux applied to the repair area
will appear to be "dry and crusted" as soon as you start to apply heat. As
you continue to heat the repair area, the flux will turn a dark grey color.
Continue to apply heat evenly to the entire repair area. Shortly after continued
heating, the flux will turn clear and appear to flow like water on the repair
area being heated. At that time, add the filler metal wire just as you would
add solder to a joint. Remember to KEEP THE FLAME MOVING during the brazing
process, and APPLY HEAT EVENLY TO THE ENTIRE BRAZE AREA.
Following these simple cautions and instructions will provide you the best
aluminum braze joint that you have ever seen. The filler metal will flow
smoothly and evenly, just as if you were soldering with soft solder.
6) ALLOW THE REPAIRED AREA TO AIR COOL:
Do not cool the repaired area by rinsing with water. The sudden cooling could
damage even the best braze job.
7) RINSE FLUX RESIDUE FOR THE BEST FINISHING RESULTS:
Keep in mind that Braze Perfect™ flux residue is non-corrosive and
completely water soluble. For best finishing results, rinse the flux residue
after the repair area has cooled. |
