Forced air cooled brazing shield

[SkidSteerSteve]

I had to do some brazing work in a really confined area. There was only 1 inch of clearance between the work and a thin plastic sheeting. Normally, I would have just dropped some scrap plate behind the area to protect from radiant heat damage. Because of the plastic, I was afraid that would not be enough of a shield, and re-radiated heat would melt the backing. So, I built this little do-dad. It's 6"x6" and 1/2" thick. The picture are pretty self explanatory. I put the tread side of the plate against the frame so that the space between the treads would make several exhaust ports along each side. It's not pretty, but I only have about 15 minutes and a couple dollars in it, so function won over form. Anyway, thought this or at least the idea might help somebody out and save stuff from getting burned or melted. Oh, it does use a LOT of air. SSS

[pilotmdurst]

Forced Air

Excellant Idea. I think I will use a section of pipe cut the length to hang over the High pressure hoses I have to work around.
Thanks for the Idea

[KEENAVV]

Good thinking. A very good solution!

[Danny]

Very "cool". Nice pic, still looks like smoke comming out of the end of the pipe when you snapped the camera.
Do you regulate the air flow at the other end of the hose ? or do you put on the ear muffs and let-er-blast ?

[SkidSteerSteve]

I didn't even notice the smoke flume until after I posted the pic. I try to make sure my pics are of the freshest quality Anyway, the regulation kinda depends on each situation. I didn't on the one I built it for originally, simply because it was such a delicate setting and I wanted to make sure it was working good. I have turned it down to just a good "breeze" when it was not so crucial. Although you are right on the ear plugs! Now that I've had it a little while, I wish I had put a little more effort in it's construction. I figured it was just going to be a one time use thing and it'd end up getting scraped. Now it looks like it will become a permanent fixture in the old torch tool box. Isn't that the way it usually works? SSS