oi
well, i'm a n00b myself, but just started brazing a few days ago—with success!
all i can say is HARRIS SAFETY SILV. stuff does the work for you basically.
uhhh.
i use:
—harris safety silv 56 brazing rod/wire (1/16" dia.)
—harris stay silv brazing flux
—big ol bernzomatic mapp gas rated torch. (too big but works just fine)
—mapp gas.
—99% sure you can use propane... just takes longer cuz it doesn't burn as hot.
—something to braze ON (i live in an apartment, so i just have a big piece of plate steel (don't get the flux on the plate steel and nothing will stick to it)
—i use magnets to hold my stuff in place
—brakeline... etc... you already know this...
—wire brush to scrub the brazed joint (i don't use this, haha)
i'm only 22... little experience welding and cutting with oxy/acetylene... never brazed before... i started out trying to braze aluminum with aluminum brazing rods.... i had a little succes... but it was just a pain in the a$$... so... compared to that, brazing steel is a piece of cake, especially with the right products. I got my harris stuff from AIRGAS in OHIO.
i made a stinger bumper for my newbright TJ... and i was using it to push myself up onto overhangs... mine hasn't dented yet or anything... and it's kept my jeep from flipping over as it should... no problems. i still need to paint it though. I'd say the brakeline (3/16") holds up VERY well. plus, when you cut it to size it doesn't bend as easily as you'd think.
OH YEAH. TUBE BENDER.
i would get one specifically for this kind of stuff... but if you're cheap like me and want to destroy your fingers, go to hobby lobby or a crafts store and buy a K&S spring tube bender. it keeps the line from folding. i just pinned it against some bike handlebars... or dowel rod or something... not the best... but it WORKS and it's only 3 dollars for like, 5 different size springs.
LINKS:
—tube bender i used
http://www.monstermarketplace.com/hobby-shop/k-and-s-tubing-bender-kit
via hobby lobby
—harris stuff i used
http://static.zoovy.com/img/gssstore/W320-H320-Bffffff/S/t047_r01593_v_2_1.jpg
via AIRGAS
—mapp gas and torch i used
http://jpowell.blogs.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/06/23/gas_it.jpg
via LOWES
spoonfed. goodluck. don't burn your place down. keep a window open. don't put your weiner into other guy's buttholes.