Where to find and what kind of tubing and solder to use

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OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
:tmbi was just wondering if one or 2 of you guys could tell me whre to find the tubing and solder to try out building my own tube chassis.i live in VA and im kinda close to everything, and whats a good size to use and how to do it. any one have a video? i really wanna learn, and do you use just a regular solderig iron/???????????:willy:pics
 
M

MonsterTrucker

Well-Known Member
This is exactly what I was wondering. What size do I use, What kinda solder? Will a solder gun get it strong enough? What kind of flux? Whats a good pipe bender to use when bending the brass? I am looking to build my own tuber because I want a few chassis but my pocket doesnt really support having them built. Please let me know. Thanks :tmb
 
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OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
MonsterTrucker said:
This is exactly what I was wondering. What size do I use, What kinda solder? Will a solder gun get it strong enough? What kind of flux? Whats a good pipe bender to use when bending the brass? I am looking to build my own tuber because I want a few chassis but my pocket doesnt really support having them built. Please let me know. Thanks :tmb
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yeah i know what you mean,i want to try to create some of my own, and if i cant do it, oh well, it'll be fun tryin,lol.:bang i just hope somebody helps us out:willy
 
Ball Racing

Ball Racing

Well-Known Member
1/8th to 3/16 brass tube,
most any kind of solder, if it has some silver in it, it will be stronger..
you can use a mini torch or a good strong iron.
Clean all the joint areas well.
You will need some sheet stock too, to make link mounts, and shock mount areas.
You will need a vise or fixture for holding and clamping parts to keep them square while it's being joined.
K&S has a tubing bender.
For some really tight bends you may have to anneal the brass, or rather heat it up until it's red, then let it cool, then it will be very soft, and bendable into shapes/
But it will be easy to bend in a wreck too, unless it is tied in with other bars.
 
M

MonsterTrucker

Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info ball! I appreciate it. I am welding a table up tonight at a friends place so I can have something to build on. Of course mine is never going to be anywhere near a boyer or a C8C but I'd like to try it out so I have my try at it once...

What kind of torch do you use? Does a pencil torch get it hot enough?

How much and do you remember the model of the bender?



I am going to research maybe someone has a youtube video of a how to.


I am assuming you start on the main cradle. Then once that is built you brace it together and you start on the upper cage?
 
O

OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
Ball Racing said:
1/8th to 3/16 brass tube,
most any kind of solder, if it has some silver in it, it will be stronger..
you can use a mini torch or a good strong iron.
Clean all the joint areas well.
You will need some sheet stock too, to make link mounts, and shock mount areas.
You will need a vise or fixture for holding and clamping parts to keep them square while it's being joined.
K&S has a tubing bender.
For some really tight bends you may have to anneal the brass, or rather heat it up until it's red, then let it cool, then it will be very soft, and bendable into shapes/
But it will be easy to bend in a wreck too, unless it is tied in with other bars.
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where could i get the brass tubing? so i dont have to use flux? where do you get sheet stock? and one more thing, what is k&s? thanks guys
 
Ball Racing

Ball Racing

Well-Known Member
K&S is a brand of metal goods that most any hobby store carries.
You can get sheet stock, and tube from a good hobby store, or from tower hobbies, a hobbytown, etc.
You probably will have to use flux, if the solder you use does not have any in it.
 
O

OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
JAnderson said:
I use brake line and silver solder for my builds.


Working on a trailer right now

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clickonpc/sets/72157623903461989/

Did a construction rack for my F350

http://www.flickr.com/photos/clickonpc/sets/72157622918099216/

I get my brakeline from auto parts stores

Solder from Homedepot/Lowes

I use a auto brakeline bender

Flux for silver solder Homedepot/lowes

and a small butane torch Homedepot/lowes
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hey thanks guy, im gonna go pick some up tonight when i get off, that boat is nice by the way. so regular brake line is brass? so you use silver solder?
 
F

FSCHENCK07

Well-Known Member
Brake line

Is brake line one stander size or is there different sizes. And if so what size do you guys use for your builds.Thanks:)
 
J

JAnderson

Guest
Brake line is steel and it easier to bend than brass. You use silver solder and use what ever dia tubing you want.

I use different sizes all the time, you really need to choose the size for looks and strength.

Trailer is not for a boat, its for my sand scorcher. :tmb
 
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OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
well i made a trip to lowes,advanced auto parts,napa,auto zone and home depot, and there was no brass tubing and they laughed when i asked for brake line smaller then 3/16,,,,,,,and as far as solder, all lowes had was lenox brand??????????????????what is that? one kind with acid core and another with a rosin core.......i found the tube bender and a heat source.......so its so confussing to me:bang i think ill give up on it now.......before i even start:willy
 
4u2nv

4u2nv

Well-Known Member
You don't need brake line smaller than 3/16... 3/16 is the normal size to use, if you need something smaller for certain things use 1/8 solid rod. As for the silver solder you need to go to a welding supply store for that. It's used for heating and air conditioning work. Use Harris Silver solder and white flux like in the link I posted earlier. Make sure you have Mapp Gas used for plumbing. Also make sure your tubing and rod has no coating on it or it won't work right. You can clean it on a wire wheel if necessary.
 
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OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
4u2nv said:
You don't need brake line smaller than 3/16... 3/16 is the normal size to use, if you need something smaller for certain things use 1/8 solid rod. As for the silver solder you need to go to a welding supply store for that. It's used for heating and air conditioning work. Use Harris Silver solder and white flux like in the link I posted earlier. Make sure you have Mapp Gas used for plumbing. Also make sure your tubing and rod has no coating on it or it won't work right. You can clean it on a wire wheel if necessary.
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oh ok, thanks for that info, whats mapp gas? so i shouldnt use a lil micro torch?
 
HawnMT

HawnMT

Well-Known Member
There's 2 different things going on here. One is brass/soldering the other is brakeline/brazing. Make sure you know which one you want.

Brakeline(steel) tubing is brazed at higher temps using MAPP gas. MAPP gas can be found at almost al hardware stores right along side Propane canisters. While this make for a strong chassis it is also very heavy.

Brass tubing is soldered either with a very good soldering iron or with a mini torch. Not as strong but very light.
 
Ball Racing

Ball Racing

Well-Known Member
Lowes or home depot do not carry tubing brass, but do have some solid brass.
You need to hit a hobby store to get the brass tubing.

If you are just soldering, any gas will work, even a cigarette ligther can get it hot enough to melt solder.
Any ,mini torch will work, and a good iron will too.

I thought people saw all this on C8C video's, and pictures???
The builder that people are putting in their sig??????
 
O

OnTheEdge

Well-Known Member
Ball Racing said:
Lowes or home depot do not carry tubing brass, but do have some solid brass.
You need to hit a hobby store to get the brass tubing.

If you are just soldering, any gas will work, even a cigarette ligther can get it hot enough to melt solder.
Any ,mini torch will work, and a good iron will too.

I thought people saw all this on C8C video's, and pictures???
The builder that people are putting in their sig??????
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yeah,we all saw it, im even having a few trucks built by c8c, but i have one person saying solder steel/ solder brass, but the guy right before you cleared that up for me,so now i know. illjust hit the hobby store and do brass tube and solder:shk
 
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