Technical Header blending

Think it needs flux unless it's coated with it already

 

These headers were fully TIG welded with steel rod, but then blended in preparation for chrome with silicon bronze

 

I think some oxyacetylene brazing rods have zinc which hisses and spits at TIG weld temperatures.
I think the filler for TIG brazing is silicon bronze or aluminum bronze.

If a joint was previously brazed, and later welded, the slightest remaining sidual bronze penetrates the steel like crazy and make it mighty brittle. Too brittle even for the exhaust on my dirt bike.

 

do

do you basically just reweld over the top of your previous weld

 

do

do you basically just reweld over the top of your previous weld

 

Yes add it where you need just be mindful of not sanding pipe too thin. blend to start with 80 grit and then something like 180

 

Cool I appreciate the help I'll mock up a practice piece to get the feel for it. Do you know can silicon bronze be ceramic coated or is chrome about the only substrate that'll stick?

 

I'd go with just the ceramic coating and forget about chroming them if you plan to drive it instead of just show it.

 

can you ceramic coat silicon bronze?

 

That’s the ticket, beautiful work.

 

I put silicon bronze around the outside welds on my headers, then had them ceramic coated. They are holding up just fine!

 

Silicon-bronze can be used alone to build headers. The set on my Studebaker is holding up fine.