Hard to figure which forum to post this one in? I have an RV with a sagging roof and want to support it from the outside with steel, angle, tubing? I actually want to use aluminum but have read that even 3" X 1/4 aluminum angle will deflect, so that is out. The steel will go side to side approx 7 feet and will carry little weight, less than 100 lbs. I am not knowledgeable enough to use the deflection calculators online. The only thing I could find locally that I could test the deflection is 1 1/4x1 1/4X1/16" square steel tubing in a 6' piece. It deflects more than I consider acceptable. Would any fabricators hazard a guess as what size steel I need. Angle, square, rectangular tubing? Thanks Jim

I have a small project but in learning how to do this will surely apply to tons of other jobs. I am a gunsmith but also work on antique clocks for a local jeweler. What I have to do is a very small braze to reclaim a clock hour hand. The hand is aluminum. Very thin and the braze will only be about 1/16th inch. I have aluminum rods and have various heat sources like acetylene, butane,mapp etc I need to buy some flux appropriate for aluminum. So my question is two fold. 1-What is the best flux sold in small quantities that would be for aluminum and hopefully other metals especially 'pot metal ?? 2-what would the best method be for brazing small jobs such as my current 'hand' versus larger, not big, pot metal pieces. Cheap guns are invariably made of pot metal so I know my learning curve will have to include at least that. When ever I have previously tried repairing pot metal it always would liquify and become junk before my eyes. Learning to braze pot metal would be worth a lot to me, but presently I need to become proficient brazing aluminum, picture included. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks -Rick