Metal Brazer Careers

Individuals searching for a vocational school that will enable them to become a metal brazer should consider the Welding Program at Pennco Tech. Offered at the Bristol, PA, campus, this program provides individuals with the skills and techniques required to pursue a meaningful career as a metal brazer. Learn more about brazing and the various career paths available after completing our comprehensive course.

The Difference Between Welding and Brazing

Brazing is a technique for joining two or more metals that involves melting a filler metal into the joint. Typically, the filler metal has a lower melting point than the adjoining metal. A metal brazer uses this fabrication technique to form strong load-bearing joints.

Many people confuse the terms welding and brazing or use them interchangeably. While they are both metal-joining strategies that participate in the overall sheet metal fabrication process, they differ slightly. The key differences between these two techniques are:

• Brazing uses capillary action, while welding uses fusion.
• Welding requires fabricators to melt the base metal and each workpiece together, while brazing does not.
• The filler metal has a lower melting point than the adjoining metal in brazing, whereas the filler metal has a higher melting point in welding.

Duties of a Metal Brazer

Since metal brazers are classified as metal fabricators, their responsibilities vary depending on the specific job or project. Generally, brazers fulfill the following tasks:

• Following blueprints and carefully thought-out plans
• Aligning and clamping workpieces together using rules, squares, or hand tools, and positioning items in fixtures, jigs, or vises
• Cleaning workpieces to remove dirt or excess acid using chemical solutions, files, wire brushes, or grinders
• Grinding, cutting, buffing, or bending edges of workpieces to join them together and ensure a snug fit using power grinders and hand tools
• Examining seams for defects and reworking faulty joints or broken parts

Metal brazers tend to earn decent salaries in the United States. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average annual wage for metal brazers is $47,010. The salary for this position depends on a variety of factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, and experience.

How to Become a Metal Brazer

For an individual to become a metal brazer or work in a similar role, they must first acquire the necessary education and skills from a welding school. Since 1973, Pennco Tech has been providing its students with career-focused education for a wide range of professions in various fields. Our trade program provides students with the fundamentals they need to pursue a career as a metal brazer.

Taught by dedicated instructors with professional experience, the welding program is a 26-week course that incorporates classroom and hands-on training. Students enrolled in the program will be exposed to various techniques, such as:

• Flux core arc welding (FCAW)
• Gas metal arc welding (GMAW/MIG)
• Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW)
• Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW/TIG)
• Plasma cutting
• Proper welding equipment/tools

As metal brazing can be a dangerous job, the program also includes OSHA safety training classes. These courses teach students how to mitigate risk and keep themselves and others safe on the job.

Various Career Opportunities

After completing the welding program at Pennco Tech, you are equipped with the essential skills needed to perform the role of metal brazer. Once in the field, you can build on your skills and apply them to a range of other metal worker roles, such as:

Ironworker

Responsible for shaping and creating iron and steel structures, ironworkers install pieces to produce the framework for roads, bridges, and other structures. They use various techniques such as heating, cutting, and shaping to mold iron beams and scaffolding. Ironworkers also weld iron pieces together, operate heavy machinery, and uphold safety regulations at the work site.

Boilermaker

Boilermakers consult with clients on their industrial needs to assemble and install boilers and other large containers for carrying gasses and liquids. They develop schematics that meet the client’s needs and then bend and seal metal to create an airtight vat that safely operates under hot, high-pressure conditions. Boilermakers typically travel to worksites to inspect boilers, ensuring they are functioning properly.

Industrial Engineer

In the metal fabrication sector, industrial engineers are responsible for overseeing operations and developing efficient manufacturing systems. They review different ways to develop metal products as well as obtain raw materials, create production schedules, train metal fabrication employees, and strive to minimize waste.

Discover a Meaningful Career at Pennco Tech

Launch your career as a metal brazing specialist at the Bristol, PA, campus of Pennco Tech. Our affordable and convenient programs give students the competency needed to thrive in multiple jobs. Contact us today to learn more about our vocational school and how to pursue a career as a metal brazer.