Space between the surfaces of a brazed or soldered joint at brazing temperature. Silver brazing alloys typically want about 0.025 to 0.125 mm (0.001 to 0.005 inch); too tight and the filler cannot enter, too loose and capillary action fails, leaving voids and weak joints. Clearance must allow for thermal expansion, which matters most with dissimilar metals such as a brass part inside steel.
Joint clearance on that fitting is way too sloppy, the alloy just ran out the bottom.
Also heard as
- gap
- fit
- braze clearance
Related terms
Brazing
Joining metals with a filler melting above 450 °C but below the base metals, drawn in by capillary action.
Wetting
Molten filler spreading across a clean surface and bonding to it, needed for a sound braze or solder.
Soldering
Joining with a filler metal that melts below 450 °C, wetting the parts without melting them.
Silver solder
Common shop name for silver brazing alloys, even though they melt well above solder temperatures.