Hey guys, I'm in a real bind! I'm at work, brazing some real bad welds someone else did on a fuel tank, and I ran out of acetelene. Is it possible to braze with propane?? If anyone knows, please answer quick, Thanks in advance.

Not as easy, make sure you have propane tips. Good luck

***** no tips oh well, no truck for the customer today

Edited February 6, 200917 yr by mod07
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It's been my experience that oxy prop brazes far easier than oxy acet but I have an Allstates rig.

Is there a reason you can't weld it instead?

Frosty

yeah, to thin and we only have an arc welder. Plus the guys that already tried to fix it have braze all over the thing!! ERRRRRR makes me made, sent the tank back already and it still leaks when it comes back

Yeah, I've seen that too many times. At some point it becomes unrepairable. Not that it COULDN'T be fixed but it's just not worth it anymore.

Good luck Buddy.

Frosty

Some of the propane torches that are rated for Mapp gas use work on thin stuff like gas tanks. Your problem brings back memories of the days when I worked in an auto body shop. All kinds of nightmares to work on.

Hi tech413. I think it will work. I use a National 3A hand torch for brazing with propane. If you are using an oxy-acetylene torch, it may be hard to light the tips if you flow propane, since the flame will try to jump off the end. You could always try. There are two tricks. One, point the tip at a junk piece of rusty steel and light the propane stream bouncing off it. Two, give it just a tiny bit of oxygen along with the propane. I have never tried either of these tricks. Maybe I should someday, since I have only read about them.

Like Flaming S Forge said, those mapp gas torches could help. They work great, especially if helped out with a couple of forge burners and insulation (firebricks/fiberglass, I dislike packing loose kaowool). Once upon a time, I brazed a burner fitting with brass using only a propane torch!!! I did it by packing all the parts in wood ash and only exposing the area to be brazed. The propane flame will blow the wood ash around, so you need to sprinkle a thin layer of sand on top. What can I say? It worked great :D

One other thought. When working with fuel tanks, be sure to take every safety precaution. If you can't braze it, maybe JB Weld would be something to try. Good luck.

Fill the tank plumb full of water, use an air hose and nozzle to go over all the seams and welds slowly, have someone watch the fill opening for bubbles and then mark the spot so it can be fixed later.

Thanks guys, the tank was already flushed and welded, just the guys that did it suck! I got a act. tank from a friend, had him haul it all the way here, but it is done. I really apreciate all the help. THANKS!