TIG welding or Brazing ?

[Mook]

Hi all,

 

I'd welcome your opinions on this one. Got a 90's Gary Fisher steel MTB with cantilever brakes. I am contemplating a pimp job to convert this steel frame to take rear disc brakes. Front is no problem since the suspension fork can take discs.

Should I TIG weld or braze caliper mounts onto the chromoly frame?

 

Thanx

Christo

[JA-Q001]

TIG should be stronger for Brakes, unless you can get a wrap around mount? 

 

But I may be wrong, depends on the welder as well.

[V12man]

Hi all,

 

I'd welcome your opinions on this one. Got a 90's Gary Fisher steel MTB with cantilever brakes. I am contemplating a pimp job to convert this steel frame to take rear disc brakes. Front is no problem since the suspension fork can take discs.

Should I TIG weld or braze caliper mounts onto the chromoly frame?

 

Thanx

Christo

You could do either - me - I would tig it if it is a genuine chrome moly frame - hard to find someone to do it for you.

 

I re-engineered an old frame with the help of some mates to take paragon engineering sliders by replacing the rear dropouts - if you had to pay for such a service it would not be an economical change at all - would be cheaper to just buy a proper frame.

[Mook]

Thanx guys,

 

I have seen custom conversion kits on sale, but it just doesn't look right. I hate the contraption which goes onto the dropout one side, and clamps onto the seat stay further up.

 

If too costly, I might follow V12's suggestion - I am sentimental about the Fisher and would like to keep it though.

 

I will shop around in Cape Town for a TIG welder worth his/her pound of flesh.

 

Thanx again

Christo

[kosmonooit]

To weld you would need similar metals, plus the stick has to be the same (stand to be corrected though)

 

Brazing is bit different, you can 'glue' dissimilar metals but it wont be as strong as tru grit welding which fuses the metals metallurgically speaking.

 

I should imagine there will be a few stress on a calliper mount, will brazing be strong enough ... ?

[Guest @BAZA]

can try Alistair he does tig welding has aircraft welding licenses see what he has to say he is in Cape town 076 5385982

[Mook]

Great stuff guys,

 

Thanx for your inputs and for the contact info Baza. Yea, you might say I'm stubborn, but I wanna make it work.

 

I will try Alistair for advise.

 

Cheers

Christo

[Karman de Lange]

can try Alistair he does tig welding has aircraft welding licenses see what he has to say he is in Cape town 076 5385982

Another competent welder. (does a lot of home build aircraft welding)

 

Gerrie – 084 469 3805

 

​Older frames everything was simply brazed on, more than strong enough

[Shebeen]

What about keeping the back wheel as V/rim brakes?

not ideal option, but if you can find the right wheel then it's definitely the easiest.

 

front needs better stoppers anyway.

[Mook]

I suppose I could consider keeping the rim brake at the back MTB gr8, but then I'd rather leave the entire steed as is.

Thanx for Gerrie's contact Karman.

 

I'll give this project some more pondering. The Fisher's worth squat, yet I want to do a decent job on the "ol gal".......or nothing.

 

Thanx guys

 

Hubbers rock !!

Christo

[V12man]

I suppose I could consider keeping the rim brake at the back MTB gr8, but then I'd rather leave the entire steed as is.

Thanx for Gerrie's contact Karman.

 

I'll give this project some more pondering. The Fisher's worth squat, yet I want to do a decent job on the "ol gal".......or nothing.

 

Thanx guys

 

Hubbers rock !!

Christo

It will be a fun project- nothing to lose really... I say go for it - what's the worst that can happen?

 

I have seen a jig for sale for aligning brake mounts - would make life really easy...