K&S Header Setup

Or

"Brazing 101"

How to Do Your Own Header - "NO Fear" - When you purchase your raw parts from K&S, Desert Air, Cactus Aviation, whoever….the thing to do is not handle them much. They will come nearly ready to braze. In fact, on these parts, the flux alone was adequate to produce an excellent joint.

Next step is to test fit all the parts. It is important to get all the angles as close as you can.

Next, using a Mapp cylinder (I buy mine at Wal-Mart) and a good torch head, braze the parts together. Just heat the joint until dull-red (sort of a cinnamon color, NOT cherry red) and test by applying the brazing rod. When it wicks rapidly around the joint, wash the flame around the joint, to prevent overheating, but control the flow of the flux and solder. A little practice will make perfect. HIGH - quality minimum of 10% silver rod is a must. If it is flux-coated, it's even better. Check your local welding shop, and tell them you're brazing thin-wall stainless…they'll fix you up, but it ain't cheap.

The last step is to assemble the stuff…neatness of the joint can be achieved, but it is a tricky business to get 'production quality'….I go for "functions"….

This completes my header lesson. The key here is practice. Buy the stuff, get some scrap tubing someplace, and practice. It is well worth the effort and time.