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Thread: Welding Question ?

  1. #1
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    Welding Question ?

    I'm about ready to re-do my exhaust system. Some of the previous work was done with stainless pipe, some with aluminized, some welded with stainless TIG, some welded with regular MIG wire, some of the flanges and bungs are stainless, some are not. I don't like the rust on the welds, so I want it all made of mandrel bent stainless pipe, stainless flanges and fittings, welded with stainless wire.

    Here's the question... Is the flux core stainless wire any good? Is it hard to use? I've found it at McMaster-Carr but the local stores don't have it.

    I only have a little Lincoln MIG welder and it doesn't have the ability to use a shielding gas, so flux core is all I can do. If the flux core stainless wire won't work, I'll just spot weld it together and take it off, then take it to a welding shop that can put it together with stainless wire.
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  2. #2
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    Personally I haven't used the flux-core stainless wire, and actually hadn't know that it existed. Thanks for letting me know this.

  3. #3
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    I used the SS rods (flux coated) on the stick welder for the last tail pipe mod.
    I wound up finishing it with the 7018 wire in the MIG.
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  4. #4
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    The flux core still suffers with neatness unfortionately. Using a mig on stainless without argon will work, but trying to keep it consistant and clean is impossible. Tig is the only one I haven't yet chased a cert on through school, but what i've seen my instructors is just amazing! Seeing as though you can get a roll of the flux core for about 12-18 bucks I would atleast use that for tacking, and as you said pay a shop for the rest.
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by FordNut View Post
    I'm about ready to re-do my exhaust system. Some of the previous work was done with stainless pipe, some with aluminized, some welded with stainless TIG, some welded with regular MIG wire, some of the flanges and bungs are stainless, some are not. I don't like the rust on the welds, so I want it all made of mandrel bent stainless pipe, stainless flanges and fittings, welded with stainless wire.

    Here's the question... Is the flux core stainless wire any good? Is it hard to use? I've found it at McMaster-Carr but the local stores don't have it.

    I only have a little Lincoln MIG welder and it doesn't have the ability to use a shielding gas, so flux core is all I can do. If the flux core stainless wire won't work, I'll just spot weld it together and take it off, then take it to a welding shop that can put it together with stainless wire.
    Flux core is okay for certain applications like exhaust tubing, car frames, anything that won't get looked at and judged for beauty, that is the best way to describe flux core. You can run flux core without shielding gas, but it serves two purposes, keeping the metal clean (by providing a "shield" around the molten puddle) and penetration. The latter, you don't really need to worry about because what you are welding is thin anyway. GTAW (TIG to old timers) would be the way to go. I used to love me some welding


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