stainless exhaust guys, welding question

[VTStang66]

I'm thinking of running the magnaflow 2.5" exhaust. I want to install it myself. Can I weld stainless with a MIG? I know you can buy a kit; I saw a picture of it and it looks like a huge crazy gun. Is that really necessary? I know a lot of guys are running this exhaust. I don't want to spend another $100 or more just for the welds.

 

[NasaGT]

To MIG weld stainless I think all you need is stainless wire and the correct gas. Seems like its a Helium/Argon/CO2 mix for stainless. Steel is an Argon/CO2 mix. Aluminum is 100% Argon. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

 

[fastcoupe68]

To MIG weld stainless I think all you need is stainless wire and the correct gas. Seems like its a Helium/Argon/CO2 mix for stainless. Steel is an Argon/CO2 mix. Aluminum is 100% Argon. Someone correct me if I'm wrong!

You are correct!
When you go to buy the stainless wire tell them what type of stainless material you are welding and
90% helium, 7.5% argon, and 2.5% carbon dioxide is the correct mixture to weld stainless
ken

 

[10secgoal]

Just Mig it unless your worried about looks. It'll rust on top, but you'll get rid of the car or die before the rust gets thru a bead. Or you can clamp it.

 

[danny clemens]

You are correct!
When you go to buy the stainless wire tell them what type of stainless material you are welding and
90% helium, 7.5% argon, and 2.5% carbon dioxide is the correct mixture to weld stainless
ken

If you use the tank you have for welding mild steel for this mix will the helium contaminate the 75/25 mix when you switch back to welding regular steel? The reason I ask this is because a welding supplier said that I could not use my tank to gas up for welding aluminum because it would contaminate the aluminum weld.

 

[VTStang66]

Just Mig it unless your worried about looks. It'll rust on top, but you'll get rid of the car or die before the rust gets thru a bead. Or you can clamp it.

I figured that might be the case. I know stainless is a little harder than mild, I was wondering if the metals would fuse correctly.

How do you think it would turn out if I used stainless wire with the gas I already have (25/75 Ar, CO2)?

 

[coolblue65]

I actually just got a Magnaflow system delivered to my house so this is a very timely post!!

My observations about the kit-
1. it doesn't come with collectors for headers, so plan on buying those seperate
2. it does come with the nice stainless band clamps (I have used these on my Dad's '01 corvette and they worked great)
3. it comes with turn downs so you may want a different tip as well.
4. The stainless looks nice!

So because of the good clamps I probably won't weld the whole thing up so its easy to remove or adjust if needed.

Here is my question about welding this thing up- Do I have to use gas to weld stainless or is there flux core wire for stainless welding?