OK, I did pick up one of those little Bernzomatic Oxy-Mapp gas torches, and yes, I did do a post on it here, in case you missed it.  I intended to put a more elaborate brazing braze/welding video together but honestly?  I’m having way too much fun brazing everything I can find.  Here’s the main reason I got it, the stop light switch bracket:

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…worked like a champ.  The only thing was that I underestimated how much heat the frame would suck up and had to hit it again, a little harder, to get a nice bead.  Here’s another little bracket that kind of cracked me up:

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I was killing myself trying to figure out a way to put a bracket together to hold the horn on a cross brace on the frame.  I really didn’t want to braze to the frame because of all the stuff I’d have to take off to get at it.  I didn’t want to drill and tap either, and the clamp I threw together didn’t hold.  I was all ready to take a Guinness break, when it dawned on me I could braze it together and be done with it.  It took about 2 minutes, holds like a rock, and doesn’t look too much like a mouse job.

I was using my wife’s pasta machine and broke this antique cast iron clamp.  Took it out to the shop, cleaned it up, and popped it back together with a neat little bead from the NS3 rod, which does claim to be OK to use on cast iron.  Looking for more stuff to practice on, I started playing with kickstand ideas, and came up with this prototype:

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…this is the foot only, the top is a little to ugly to show off right yet.

So yeah.  Is it worth the $60?  ummmm, ya think?  Does it make me want to weld and braze everything in sight?  um, YUS!  Is it a “Gateway Tool” to the hardcore stuff?  I suspect so…

Seriously, simply having the tool on hand, giving me the ability to braze-weld literally on a whim makes a huge difference in how I’m approaching the parts and design I have left on the bike.  No longer are brackets and parts a “workaround”.  I can do it right.

I also have to share a little discovery – it’s an oxygen tank that’s 50% bigger than the small ones, yet the same $10 price.  Strangely, they’re not listed on the Bernzomatic site.  It’s a 2.1oz capacity, vs. the 1.4oz of the small one.  Here’s one listing on eBay.

When I get a little better at the skill and/or run out of things to braze, maybe I’ll do another video.  Next project?  The scooter motor mount, I reckon.

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