welding stainless with mig

[brucer]

Hey you guys! Looking for some advice on welding stainless. i know it isnt the correct way but im wanting a cheap way to weld an exhaust head flange to an evo manifold. I have no problem using a mig with normal steel wire, but will it have any adverse affects on expansion with the stainless etc? I know the welds will rust and im not bothered about that as i dont expect it to last.

at the mo i cant afford the custom jobbie i want and i wanted the car useable for a handful of occasions next year. Next winter should see me with a decent manifold.


Thanks for any help

Bruce

[Andy]

why isn't it correct?
You can buy stainless wire to use and you need pure argon

[brucer]

What i mean is, i dont want to buy other things, just straight mig wire for mild steel with co2/argon mix.

[EwanG]

Are you welding steel to stainless or stainless to stainless? If its stainless to stainless do what Andy says.

[Andy]

What i mean is, i dont want to buy other things, just straight mig wire for mild steel with co2/argon mix.

if you wanna bodge it why bother welding lol

[millworm]

Take it to a machine shop and have it done properly, professional tig welds are beautiful haha

[brucer]

[QUOTE=Andy;2251658]if you wanna bodge it why bother welding lol

Ill q-bond it then. :tard:

[Andy]

why not? when ya scrimping over 25quid it wouldn't come as a surprise...

[brucer]

why not? when ya scrimping over 25quid it wouldn't come as a surprise...

My question was for side effects of welding stainless with mild steel mig, not the correct way of doing things.

Cant answer then dont answer.:thumb:

[Andy]

You pretty much answered your own question really.
Rusts a lot,its harder to get a decent weld etc.More prone to cracks,harder to get an airtight seal.
I just cannot see why you cant buy a small hobby argon bottle from Halfords and a kilo stainless wire too?

[Andy]

With the right gas and wire,for not a lot of money it could be as good as a good one with a decent welder on the job.

[brucer]

Id need an adapter to fit the gas to the welder, the welds would be a continues 10mm'ish 'c' shaped bead down the length of the flange. Its a flange to flange joint which are both 10mm thick stainless.

I was waiting for more cons ( as there wouldnt be any pros) to convince my self id have to wait and get it tig'd. For a manifold ill be using for less than a year and has cost me 80quid including the flange, i didnt want to spend much time/effort/money on.

[Andy]

what amp welder do you have?

[Andy]

do you use gas account bottles?

[BRoadGhost]

I welded my stainless system with normal MIG wire. Granted a bit more fussy to weld right, but no reason at all why you can't get a proper seam round all the tubes.

Then on went the high temperature paint!

[staggy_gsi]

Ive welded stainless to stainless, and stainless to mild steel, both with a regular mig welder set up for mild steel. Granted its not the right way to do it, and it will no doubt look shoite, but it will work and be useable until you can afford the proper job.

[brucer]

Good to hear staggy.

Its a 240amp oxford welder, the bottles are supplied by a local company but i dont know who as the boss sorts that out.

[Iain]

I bought some stainless wire but I don't remember using a different gas... Welding came out fine.

[Andy]

With that welder you shouldnt have any bother then

[Rob H]

Don't get pure argon it costs a fortune and can be prone to splatter, plus it gives a tall weld bead, it's best used for panel repairs as it doesn't burn as deep and even then yout gonna want about 2/3% of co2 in it. Mild steel will wire will work fine for a exhaust flange, it's not ljke its holding up a building lol. Just spray the welds with a decent high temp paint afterwards.

[brucer]

Tidy rob, got some bbq paint to spray on after.:thumb:

[BRoadGhost]

I went downstairs to get me a cold pop & I thought I could smell someone BBQing

[Benn]

Not the best welds but it was strong. But i had to weld this bracket back on to my mates Monero Stainless rear box. Plate is stainless and pipe/box is. Welded with normal mild steel wire.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v321/bennh/Crap/IMAG0469_zpsbc4b8809.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/bennh/media/Crap/IMAG0469_zpsbc4b8809.jpg.html)

[brucer]

had chance during my breaks to start modding the manifold, cut off the un-needed material and laid down some thick beads of weld. The top was clamped down too before anybody asks.

http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0455_zps301132ba.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0455_zps301132ba.jpg.html)
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0456_zps6570d8c2.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0456_zps6570d8c2.jpg.html)
http://i193.photobucket.com/albums/z24/bachilds1988/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0458_zps5642c42f.jpg (http://s193.photobucket.com/user/bachilds1988/media/Mobile%20Uploads/DSC_0458_zps5642c42f.jpg.html)

[Benn]

That looks great, wire brush off and youll be laughing.