Brazing or soldering?

Soldering uses fillers that melt below about 450 °C and gives weaker joints; brazing is stronger and handles higher temperatures.

Welding melts the parts themselves; brazing does not, so it suits thin parts, dissimilar metals and joints that must not distort.

Why is the joint gap important?

The filler flows into the gap by capillary action. Too wide a gap leaves weak, partly filled joints.

Brazing job work: silver and copper brazing, uses

Brazing joins metal parts with a filler metal that melts above about 450 °C but below the melting point of the parts. The molten filler is drawn into the tight gap between the parts and sets into a strong, leak-tight joint. It joins copper pipes, carbide tips to tool bodies, and dissimilar metals such as copper to steel, with less heat and distortion than welding.

Quick facts

Temperature: Above about 450 °C, below the base metals' melting point
Fillers: Silver alloys, brass, copper, aluminium-silicon
Heating: Torch, induction or furnace
Joint gap: About 0.05–0.15 mm (0.0020–0.0059 inch) for good flow
Joins: Same or different metals (copper, steel, brass, carbide)
Usually priced: Per joint or per part

Which brazing method

Method	Best for
Torch brazing	Repairs, few parts, pipes
Induction brazing	Repeat parts, fast and even heating
Furnace brazing	Many joints at once, copper brazing of steel

Typical uses

Copper pipes and refrigeration parts
Carbide tips on cutting tools
Electrical connections and busbars
Heat exchangers
Joining steel to copper or brass

What to send

Drawing or photos of the joint
Materials of both parts
Filler wanted (silver, brass, copper) or the service conditions
Leak test or strength test needed
Quantity

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Questions

Brazing or soldering?: Soldering uses fillers that melt below about 450 °C and gives weaker joints; brazing is stronger and handles higher temperatures.
Brazing or welding?: Welding melts the parts themselves; brazing does not, so it suits thin parts, dissimilar metals and joints that must not distort.
Why is the joint gap important?: The filler flows into the gap by capillary action. Too wide a gap leaves weak, partly filled joints.

The figures on this page are typical values for guidance, written by Diemeco from standard engineering practice. They are not a specification: confirm grades and properties with the relevant standard or the supplier's mill test certificate, and tolerances with your workshop. Last checked 23 October 2026.