Abstract: In a brazing method of brazing a joint at the contacted surfaces of two base metals, the surfaces of the base metals are arc heated to the optimum brazing temperature of higher than a melting point of a brazing alloy and lower than a melting point of the base metal with the temperature gradient gradually lowering from one end to the opposite end, while feeding the brazing alloy from the end in the lower temperature side into the clearance between the contacted surfaces of the base metals or disposing the brazing alloy in the clearance before heating.A soft plasma arc is used as the heat source to heat the joint from one end to the opposite end.

Abstract: A vacuum degassing apparatus is so constructed that molten steel is circulated or flowed between a ladle and a vacuum vessel through a tube, the molten steel is degassed in the vacuum vessel, the surrounding air is prevented from flowing into the ladle during a degassing operation by placing a cover at the top of the ladle, an inert gas is forced into the ladle for sealing the molten steel from the surrounding atmosphere, and, when necessary, a space between the ladle and the vacuum vessel is sealed by a bellows.