insurance values/claims, repairs

["Denis, Jean" <Jean_Denis@domain.elided>]

Richard,

>However, I do disagree violently on one point -- brazing.  It is mig/tig
welding which leaves the area rust-prone, perhaps even rusting before it
can be primed.  Brass cannot rust, and the near-by seems not particularly
rust-prone.  (But particularly where the surface is rough -- those little
fingers of wire protruding [as they typically are], rust is assured.)<

Please reconsider what you obviously posted in error and next time, try not
to lead others to misinformation (a little knowledge is a dangerous thing!).

You are absolutely partly right, brass does not "Rust". Brass does corrode
though, although only slightly. A particular form of corrosion on steel is
called "rust". On any other metal it's just plain oxidation or corrosion or
patina or verdegris or whatever.

A word to the uninitiated: Never argue vehicle corrosion with a mechanical
engineer living in the rust belt.

Brass, being very dissimilar from steel and less reactive, becomes the
cathode and the steel with which it is in contact, the anode. So the steel
is attacked preferentially near a brazed joint - it may look very clean near
the brazing but on closer inspection and with a little more time you will
see that it becomes severely pitted. A brazed joint will also look clean
because of the action of the flux used to make the brass wet the steel. BUT,
as is most often the case, some minuscule amount of flux is left behind by
less than stellar bodypersons and BINGO! Rust City! And, on top of that, it
is VERY DIFFICULT to get any kind of primer or filler to stick permanently
to brass.

Mig and Tig welding do not striclty cause corrosion, and "those little bits
of wire left sticking up" are symptomatic of less competent welders. Of
course bare steel can rust before priming, that's why they invented "Metal
Prep"! and if you've not heard of it, well then... .

Disclaimer: None.
This knowledge expressed above comes from formal training and many, many
years of experience and experimentation in the subject matter.

Regards,

Jean Denis

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