Silicon Bronze welding patch panels

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 08, 2014 6:25 pm
I was recommended by a friend to try silicon bronze for mig welding in my patch panels. Anyone have any input? I guess it melts at a lower temp, so less warpage and easier to clean the welds/grind them down.

Anyone use this stuff?



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PostPosted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 2:34 pm
Bump anyone?



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PostPosted: Thu Dec 11, 2014 3:06 pm
wahoo wrote:Bump anyone?


There's pros/cons to using it, lots of info "out there" to read, but for most people, a mig with .023 mild steel wire is the most efficient method. ( time/money )



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PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 1:50 pm
Silicon Bronze is a copper based filler metal primarily used for MIG, TIG and oxyacetylene welding of copper, copper-silicon and copper-zinc base metals to themselves and to steel. Silicon bronze can be used for on plain or galvanized steel sheet metal. It can also be used for surfacing areas subjected to corrosion.

I don't know why it was suggested but I will try some some time at least with the Tig and see how it works on old sheet metal.

I have been using ER70S 6 or 2 on old steel thats been dirty rusty and oily and had to be cleaned up, its just easier to weld with than other stuff I have tride.

There is a lot of different filler materials out there and even more to know about them.
Dennis B.
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 12, 2014 4:07 pm
Dennis, I have played around with it some, but didn't have much luck with the mig. But I didn't spend much time with either mig or tig, it seems some time would have to be spent on getting the temperature just right. Too cool and you get poor adhesion with the mig, to warm and it really flows using the tig.

Its like everything else I guess practice practice.
http://metalshapers.org/101/covell/cove ... onze.shtml

http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=you ... B141021BC1



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 1:51 am
That's cheating! :knockout:


Guess what I will be ordering at my Welding house in the mourning?
I was doing some research on another one when I was looking info up on this one that I want to try as well.
Dennis B.
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 12:58 pm
The description I got was from Airgas web sight so much for listening to what they say in there descriptions about there products.

I am going out today to buy some for my Tig welder to try out thanks for the Tip will be buying a Spool for my mig as well.

Was wondering if I need to lower my Voltage settings when using Mig tho?
Dennis B.
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Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.



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PostPosted: Sat Dec 20, 2014 11:33 am
My local shop wont order this for me till after the end of the year?
Gonna look for some in the big city today

If any one cares Washington alloy stock number is c65600 or 656
After the new information provided I am anxious to try it myself
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.

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PostPosted: Wed Oct 21, 2015 6:46 pm
Old thread I know, but here is some additional info: silicon bronze requires less temperature to melt, leading to less warpage. The trade-off however is that it is not as strong, and should not be used for structural body panels. The workaround for this is using the old flange method for attaching panels. This adds some stiffening and makes silicon bronze acceptable for "slightly" higher strength applications. The trade-off here of course is that whenever you flange a patch panel, you have created a location for moisture to collect and rust to develop



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PostPosted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 2:31 pm
bryanmartin wrote:Old thread I know, but here is some additional info: silicon bronze requires less temperature to melt, leading to less warpage. The trade-off however is that it is not as strong, and should not be used for structural body panels. The workaround for this is using the old flange method for attaching panels. This adds some stiffening and makes silicon bronze acceptable for "slightly" higher strength applications. The trade-off here of course is that whenever you flange a patch panel, you have created a location for moisture to collect and rust to develop


I don't know I have seen some Flange patches done well or as well as one could be done.
I can think of were it would work ok on a panel just not sure I would use the method myself as my skills have come a long way now.

I want to use the Silicon Bronze stuff more for the paints ability to stick to it more than anything else at this point in areas were the factory used it. My skills with my Tig welder are getting better every time I weld and I have no problem Tig welding my panels now But still have more to learn i am in no way an expert.

Still I think the stuff has its place in my welding stuff
Dennis B.
A&P Mechanic, FCC General radio Telephone Operator
Line Maintenance A&P Mechanic and MOC Tech specialist.
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