Reuse lug set

[Zobman]

I want to reuse a bicycle head tube that was brazed together. If I just heat up the tube, will it come apart so I can reuse it? Or is it shot and can't be used again? Or do I have to grind it down to reuse it?

[greywynd]

When you say brazed, are you referring to a brass alloy brazing rod, silver solder, or?

Either of these can be heated, 're-arranged' and re brazed, but you may need to add more flux and/or solder (they are both technically forms of soldering) to do so....hence the need to know which it is. The other thing that you will wish to do is to clean paint, grease, dirt etc away from the area, so that the amount of flux or filler is reduced too. Dirt entering the joint will weaken it a lot in a hurry.

[Rocky D]

I want to reuse a bicycle head tube that was brazed together. If I just heat up the tube, will it come apart so I can reuse it? Or is it shot and can't be used again? Or do I have to grind it down to reuse it?
Yes you can heat it up to melt the braze and re-use it...to re-braze it, a wire brush cleaning will do...to weld it, you will need to clean off the braze material, by grinding.

[Aerometalworker]

I want to reuse a bicycle head tube that was brazed together. If I just heat up the tube, will it come apart so I can reuse it? Or is it shot and can't be used again? Or do I have to grind it down to reuse it?

Yes you can re-use lugs, just be sure to flux the inside of the lug before sliding it together, and of course use the same brazing methods to avoid boiling out the material between the lug and tube.

-Aaron

[Zobman]

The head tube in not in a lug. The head tube was just brazed (I think) to the frame. I cut the head from the frame leaving a inch and can see the braze. It's a cheap bike, so no lugs. But I want to use the head tube for a recumbent tadpoe trike I am building. I want to mig it on my build.

[ivan]

I would just grind off the old brazing and not heat the head tube to keep warpage to a minimum it will save you on the cost of refacing the headtube so its round again for the headset to fit properly. If you need a new head tube hit me up as I have a few and can send you one. You can also check out novacycle supply they sell to the home builder. Good luck and definatly post a pic or two!

[Zobman]

Thanks Ivan, I will keep the offer in mind! But wouldn't mig welding the head tube back on heat it up and possible warp it?

[ivan]

Yes it will.... But not as bad as heating it up twice especially if its a newer thin wall cromo headtube. Thin walled bicycle tubing does not like to be overheated and could be a headache down the road if it is overheated. Mild steel tubing is easier to work with but doesnt give the ride quality of higher end steels.

[Zobman]

Ivan, are you a bicycle builder?

[ivan]

Yes I build bicycle frames.

[Zobman]

Build any tadpole trikes? Or thought of it?