The photo that occurs on the MSR/Cascade Designs website is reproduced in more detail in the following article: Cascade Designs, by Kent Peterson at Momentum http://momentumplanet.com/articles/cascade-designs The short article is about Cascade Designs and what they do and where. The most telling part about the article is the photo, shown below. First, all stoves are designed, built, and tested in Seattle according to the photo caption. Second, the photo shows a pile of MSR XGK-EX stoves that have had the silbrazing done, with more parts in the foreground and background. The main focus is the flame on the work being done in what looks like a specially made jig to hold the stove parts in place. The builder is using acetylene and oxygen (see the red and green hoses in the background), probably because it's hot. I did one of these tube and bell silbrazes the other day with MAPP gas and found that it takes a lot of heat to make that joint. I can see why they are using the big torch so they can get it done quick. It also looks like the hose barb was just brazed on to the end of the tube since it looks like it has some burned flux on it or is awaiting the braze treatment. The black flux (see background container) is being used for the hot silver solder (and probably nickel mix) they are using to join stainless steel and brass. Photo by Cascade Designs sam
Would they sil braze at manufacture or would it be brazed. Silbraze is excellent for the home handyman due to its lower melting point and ease of use but its far too expensive foe a production run
Hi Geeves, you may be right, but this is the most expensive camp stove you can buy in NZ at the moment. NZD400 plus, then they want around NZD50 for a MSR fuel bottle, 35for a spares kit. It is nearly a 500 dollar bit of kit... unless you buy it off ebay.
Interesting Sam. I believe they could do the brazing faster and more precise with oxy-acethelyn torches than with mapp gas which is more practical. The jig is also intriguing but not for the normal handyman who may just use flat bars and brick as I do. Thanks for sharing. Ron
What a great photo! Seen the jig before in the pipefitting and welding workshops. The welder can do this with his eyes closed after a few thousand pieces i think
Just got redirected here from another thread. Silbraze is very cost effective because it's strong, fast, and easy. By far the most expensive part of this(or just about any other manufactured product) is labor. As an example, last I checked, carbide cutting tips are silbrazed on even cheap saw blades and drill bits. And the amount required would still only amount to a few cents per stove. Mike
OXY-Acetylene seems to be the standard flame for brazing in most metal shops that I know. Acetylene is the hottest burning gas, and is available in large cylinders. Some time ago I made brass toys for my grandchildren, and had no problem doing brazing of brass parts with brass wire. I did not try to join brass to stainless steel. Yonadav
