schwinn brazing question

[Bendix]

this came back from the blaster the other day. i suppose the brass colored stuff is well, brass. what is the other material? :?:

 

[Uncle Stretch]

I have noticed that there is a period in bicycle manufacturing where they were just getting into welding electrically and i think some of it they welded and some of it the brazed. some of it might be lead where they smoothed out the welds,but i would think the sand blaster would have taken lead out. just guessing on that.

 

[Rodland]

Looks like lead to me. Scratch it with a knife. If it turns the spot you scratch shiny and is soft, it is lead.

 

[tnt1]

looks like plastic filler/bondo

 

[olschbp]

you guys aren't thinking, if it was lead or bondo filler, it wouldn't be there after blasting, so it is weld, only thing that would be hard enough to withstand blasting I think, I might be wrong, but doubt it

 

[stretch]

maybe tin/lead? or just plain tin? :| i racked my brain of all the metals it could be, and i REALLY don think its silver. copper, no. thats all i got is tin.( :lol: )

 

[tnt1]

look at the hole in it and look at the sanding marks a weld would not look like that

 

[Bendix]

not bondo

it had original, rusty paint. it's shiny metal when filed/sanded. i was guessing lead (although it doesn't seem soft enough) but thought someone might know 'for sure' . thanks all

 

[olschbp]

if lead, how would it hold the frame together? you have to think of what they had back then and what they were using for machinery, but what do I know? :roll:

 

[Uncle Stretch]

In the old days they didnt have bondo so on cars and bikes and anything metal ... they brazed the stuff together and then went over it with melted lead they had in buckets and smoothed it out with wooden paddles. Was hitec for the time. All cars had all the seams leaded....lost art.

 

[maddogrider]

Hey Uncle Stretch have you ever done the lead filler deal? I was woundering if it is easier to use than bondo seams to me like it would make a nicer fix

 

[Uncle Stretch]

Maddog its a very arcaic process that takes a special touch. You have to use a bar of lead and a torch. the putting it on is right about the same heat you warp thin body panels. then as you reheat it you smooth it out with the paddles. seen it done ...but ill stick with bondo. :wink: I have never caught anything on fire with a can of bondo.

 

[Rat Rod]

And you know handling large quantities of melting lead has to be good for your health....ha ha.

 

[maddogrider]

And you know handling large quantities of melting lead has to be good for your health....ha ha.

Ya lead is not healthy, but it is healthy for my paycheck sometimes i score a job where we have to incapsalate the lead base paint in old houses so people can get a loan on it. I guess to many kids where chewing on the trim and walls making them kinda stupid.
However i think it would be kinda cool to learn the lead filler deal, but i dont think i have enough brain cells to loose :mrgreen:

 

[Bendix]

In the old days they didnt have bondo so on cars and bikes and anything metal ... they brazed the stuff together and then went over it with melted lead they had in buckets and smoothed it out with wooden paddles. Was hitec for the time. All cars had all the seams leaded....lost art.

good, i'm not crazy after all..... i figured lead as a filler with smaller welds underneath made the most sense. i remember seeing them doing a little lead work on a hot rod show a while back. pretty neat when done with care! i hope all the stuff i learn here doesn't push out the stuff i already know. i'd hate to forget my pin number or something.....

 

[Bendix]

And you know handling large quantities of melting lead has to be good for your health....ha ha.

Ya lead is not healthy, but it is healthy for my paycheck sometimes i score a job where we have to incapsalate the lead base paint in old houses so people can get a loan on it. I guess to many kids where chewing on the trim and walls making them kinda stupid.
However i think it would be kinda cool to learn the lead filler deal, but i dont think i have enough brain cells to loose :mrgreen:

eating paint never hurt me n-n-n-none.......

 

[maddogrider]

Honey why does little Bendix just sit there and stair at us shouldnt he be talking by now? :mrgreen:
Will you quit chewing on the trim!

 

[user 135]

Ran across some info regarding this frame. Schwinn used lead to smooth the welds back then.
From Sheldon's site.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/schwinn-braze.html#id

If you have a bare frame, the material joining the tubes is a clue:
- Gold colored brass means you have a fillet-brazed model
- Soft grey lead over brass means you have an early fillet-brazed model from the 1930's and '40's. (A real collector's item!)

 

[skoda]

They are probably welds. Try to see if they are magnetic.

 

[41DX]

Electroforged.... Wasn't it a Schwinn thing?