Is There A Difference Between Brazing and Welding

1/6/2021 Is There A Difference Between Brazing And Welding?
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Is There A Difference Between

Brazing And Welding?
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While many people use “welding” and “fabricating”

interchangeably, others confuse “welding” and “brazing”.
However, neither is quite the case.
Both are individual metal-joining sheet metal techniques

within the overall sheet metal fabrication process, but each
operation differs slightly. In short, welding is a technique that
joins metals by melting the base metal and causing fusion,
while brazing joins metals by melting and flowing a filler
metal into the joint.
The Big Difference
In brazing and welding, fabricators add a filler metal into the

joint. The filler metal can be aluminum-silicon, brass,
bronze, copper, copper-silver, gold-silver, nickel alloy, or
silver.
However, the major differences are the following:
In brazing, the filler metal has a lower melting point than

the adjoining metal. In welding, the filler metal has a
higher melting point, like soldering.
In brazing, fabricators don’t melt the base metal. In

welding, fabricators melt the base metal and each
workpiece together.
Brazing uses capillary action, and welding uses fusion.
The Process
In the welding process, fusion is caused. Fusion is the

generic fabrication term for joining together metals of similar
compositions and melting points. A pool of molten material
called the weld pool is formed due to the high melting points
of the workpieces.
This pool cools to form a joint that’s stronger than the base
metal, and pressure in the form of heat might be used to
assist in weld production.
Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler

metal from being contaminated or oxidized, which is the
loss of electrons and causes iron oxide (better known as
rust) to form on the metal.
In the brazing process, the filler metal flows into the joint
between close-fitting parts by capillary action, which is the
ability of a liquid to flow in narrow spaces without the
assistance of or in opposition to external forces like gravity.
The filler metal is then brought slightly above its melting

point while protected by a flux, a chemical cleaning and
purifying agent. It then flows over the base metal (also
known as wetting) and is subsequently cooled to join the
work pieces together.
The Techniques
Welding and brazing are sheet metal techniques, but sub-

techniques of each operation exist. Types of brazing include
the following:
Torch brazing
Furnace brazing
Silver brazing
Braze welding
Cast-iron welding
Vacuum brazing
Dip brazing
Types of welding include the following:
Electric resistance welding
Electroslag welding
Flux-cored arc welding
Gas metal arc welding
Gas tungsten arc welding
Glass welding
Oxy-fuel welding
Plastic welding
Shielded metal arc welding
Submerged arc welding
The Benefits Of Brazing
Welding is a more common sheet metal technique, but

brazing shouldn’t be discounted as a reliable process.
The biggest benefit to brazing is that sheet metal fabricators

can join together similar or different metals and still produce
a strong joint. In welding, metals of similar temperatures
and compositions must be used for a finished product,

which does produce stronger joints.
Brazing also allows for tighter control, produces a cleaner

joint than welding without the need for secondary finishing,
and produces less thermal distortion than welding. In
brazing, a uniform temperature is used, unlike welding
which uses different temperatures.
Brazing is also easily adaptable for mass production. The

sheet metal technique allows for easy automation because
the project parameters are rarely varied.
Sheet metal fabrication techniques can be a confusing

concept to wrap your head around, because so many
operations exist. If you need help in learning each and
every metal technique, click here to download our cheat
sheet.
You can also download our newest Welding Cheat Sheet if

you’d rather focus on this specific technique:
Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal

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1/6/2021 Is There A Difference Between Brazing And Welding?

INDUSTRY ARTICLES FROM KAEMPF

Is There A Difference Between

While many people use “welding” and “fabricating”

Both are individual metal-joining sheet metal techniques

The Big Difference

In brazing and welding, fabricators add a filler metal into the

However, the major differences are the following:

In brazing, the filler metal has a lower melting point than

In brazing, fabricators don’t melt the base metal. In

Brazing uses capillary action, and welding uses fusion.

In the welding process, fusion is caused. Fusion is the

Welding also requires a form of shield to protect the filler

The filler metal is then brought slightly above its melting

Welding and brazing are sheet metal techniques, but sub-

Types of welding include the following:

Electric resistance welding

Flux-cored arc welding

Gas metal arc welding

Gas tungsten arc welding

Shielded metal arc welding

Submerged arc welding

The Benefits Of Brazing

Welding is a more common sheet metal technique, but

The biggest benefit to brazing is that sheet metal fabricators

and compositions must be used for a finished product,

Brazing also allows for tighter control, produces a cleaner

Brazing is also easily adaptable for mass production. The

Sheet metal fabrication techniques can be a confusing

You can also download our newest Welding Cheat Sheet if

Topics: Welding, Tools & Techniques, Sheet Metal

Subscribe to Email Updates

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6 Sheet Metal Manufacturing Shortcuts to Look Out For

What to Know Before Outsourcing Sheet Metal Design

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Sheet Metal Fabrication (48)

Tools & Techniques (20)

Download K&H's Metal Fabrication Techniques Cheat

Download the Cheat Sheet

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(301) 663-6670 tel

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