Using Easyflo 45

[Gordon French 1Participant @gordonfrench1]

I know that some of you MUST have bits of Easyflo 45 from days before safety was a big consideration. If FORCED to us it how would you deal with the deadly fumes? Is there any way that is at all practical? If so, what do you do? Gordon French, Roseburg, Oregon USA

[Gordon French 1Participant @gordonfrench1]

How to deal with the deadly fumes

[Roderick JenkinsParticipant @roderickjenkins93242]

Gordon,

I think the health risks to an amateur user are minimal. I take the view that if we do our silver brazing outdoors we'll be fine. The European ban on cadmium containing consumer products is probably more to do with keeping manufacturers waste products out of the environment.

Cheers,

Rod

[Keith HaleParticipant @keithhale68713]

It is impossible not to produce cadmium fume when using easiflo 45. The question is "how much is produced?"

An amateur model engineer generally does not use enough alloy/continuously to constitute a health problem but, to make sure that you keep yourself safe, take some simple precautions.

Ensure good flux coverage of the joint and alloy.

Braze in well ventilated conditions e.g. outdoors or well ventilated workshop.Ensure any natural draught is away from you.

Do not hold your head above the workpiece

Examine your brazing technique. Do not overheat the alloy. Apply the heat to the joint not the alloy. Melt the alloy using heat from within the joint not from the torch. Avoid oxy/gas torches. Their flames are very hot and intense. They tend to encourage the modeller to use a welding technique – not brazing.

Having made the joint remove the heat. Little is to be gained by continued heating.

Better still, switch to a cadmium free alloy. Depending on your circumstances e.g. size of component you might need to fix a larger burner to your torch to accomodate the slightly higher melting range of cadmium free alloys. They are not as fluid but stick to the basics of the bazing process- joint design. fluxing, heating you will continue to produce high quality joints.

Keith

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