Originally Posted by
oldred
Yes Propane/Oxygen will braze just fine but what can't be done is welding with it. While it does get hot enough to weld with (it takes a while but it will get there) the flame chemistry is all wrong, waaaay too much Hydrogen and the flame will also lack the Carbon Dioxide shielding of the weld puddle that Acetylene provides. The little Propane torches, as has already been pointed out, are not good for much other than low temp soft solder on small parts, add a small disposable O2 cylinder available and the appropriate hardware found at some hardware stores (I looked at them at Lowes a couple of weeks ago) and the Propane rig will then not only Silver Solder but will actually be capable of brazing. This rig works great BUT those little tanks drain quite fast, for firearm work however they should still be quite useful!
Oxy/Propane torches, the large rigs, for cutting and brazing have become more popular in the last couple of years because of the obscene prices that is asked for Acetylene these days due to an explosion at the Union Carbide plant some time back, the Carbide used for Acetylene has to be imported now. While Acetylene works MUCH better and allows for steel welding (we always referred to it as a poor man's TIG) the fact is Propane/Oxygen will do most everything the Acetylene rig will do with the exception of welding and do it MUCH cheaper!