mig welding copper and brass

[zachary kling]

hello all, I was just wondering if any one out there has mig welded copper or brass, the miller 2003 catalog says that you can but I was just wondering what set-up you would need to do that.

Thanks,
zach

[Paul Seaman]

Zach:
I think that is a misprint, I've never heard of migging brass or copper. Normally brass or copper is tig or oxw.

Good luck,

[racing_dave]

here's the only info that I could find:

http://www.weldreality.com/discussio...676&PostID=374

good luck!

dave.

[HAWK]

zach,

Here is a link to some good technical info. I think you will have to dig deeper for procedural specifics.

http://www.twi.co.uk/j32k/protected/band_3/jk23.html

[aametalmaster]

I used to weld brass all the time with a mig building up wear plates for the steel industry. Wire is easy to get..Bob

[HAWK]

Bob,

What wire did you use? I have never tried any other than standard: steel, aluminum, and SS. I have a roll of phosporous bronze, but have not played with it on MIG. I keep it for TIG filler.

[aametalmaster]

Hawk, It may have been Alum Bronze wire my dad had a big spool of it that was 20 years ago my brain lacks all the fine details. I guess I should have kept my head outta the fumes. LOL. I will look around at his shop he never threw anything out it's prob still there. www.crownalloys.com has a little info. Thanks..Bob

[klsm54]

The Miller Optima Pulse Pendant has a program for Copper and Silicon Bronze. I have experimented with an XMT 304 with the optima in welding Copper Caskets. The prograqm did a pretty good job, but presently they still tig weld the copper units. Demand is low, as they are a high dollar item, so they have never wanted to spring for the equipment.

There is another customer we have, but not in my area, that welds Copper Caskets with conventional, non-pulse mig, successfully.

We sell a lot of Silicon Bronze mig wire. Some of it is used to build up brass moulds for the glass industry, and a lot of it is used to make corrosion free welds on Galvinized gauge material. The wire used on the glass moulds is also applied by pulse. The tin knockers are using small Millermatic 135 type machines with .030 wire with real good success.

[Canuck]

Klsm, when you say gauge material what gauge are they welding or do you not know?

[klsm54]

I am not cetain Canuck, but it is for exhaust hoods and similar types of fabrications. Most likely in the 16-18 gauge thickness, maybe as thin as 20 gauge.