How to Melt Flux for Copper Nickel Alloys
- 1). Use a wire brush and washcloth to thoroughly clean the copper nickel alloy surface you want to weld together. You must remove all rust, dirt and debris from the surface before you proceed.
- 2). Use a flux bush to apply the flux paste to the joint area you want to weld, as well as the welding rod. Only use a flux that is specifically designed for copper nickel alloys. The product information will state what metals it is good for. Ask a sales representative if you have any questions about a specific product.
- 3). Put on your safety goggles, welder's helmet, leather gloves, heavy-duty boots and fire-resistant clothing.
- 4). Prep your oxy-gas welding equipment. Each set of equipment has its own instructions, and you should always be familiar with the operation procedure and have read the owner's manual before beginning.
- 5). Turn the knobs on your welder's torch, until the flame is at a slightly carburizing level. This flame will have a bluish-white inner cone -- the middle cone is white and the outer part of the flame is light blue. The inner cone will have a feather on the tip.
- 6). Bring the torch head down, so the inner cone of the flame just barely touches the copper nickel alloy piece. Start on one end of the seam you want to weld.
- 7). Place the tip of your filler rod inside the flame as you weld the pieces together. You don't want to melt the base metal, just heat it enough to fuse the pieces together. Work from one end of the seam to the other without stopping, if you can.
- 8). Turn off the welding equipment, oxygen and gas tanks according to the manufacturers' instructions.
- 9). Allow the metal to cool slowly. After it is cooled, wipe any remaining flux paste traces from the metal surface with warm water and a washcloth.
