Technical > Tools and Equipment

Tack Welding Stainless

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KatoKid:
Ok, call out to all you welders out there.

I need to modify my factory BMW stainless steel headers slightly to fit so will need to buy some stainless mandrel bends and then cut to fit and then tack weld in place so I can take the pipes to someone who can TIG them properly for me.

Ive got a good Lincholn MIG but dont want the expense of having to buy wire and gas just for a few tacks so have few questions about the best and cheapest way of doing this:
1. Is there such a thing as gasless stainless MIG wire?
2. Can I use normal argoshield mild steel gas with stainless wire just for tacking.
3. Will normal steel wire and gas allow me just to tack? If yes will it cause problems when they go to TIG properly latter?

Any other suggestions on how to get this done?

Thanks.

David

Sirpent:
David

I have a gasless mig welder which Im happy to loan you as Im in no need of it at the moment.

In answer to you questions.

A gasless mig welder uses flux cored wire which technically replaces the gas when a current is passed through it.

You can buy CIG stainless flux cored wire at Bunnings, and Super Cheap, 0.8 and 0.9 from memory.

Im heading up to Ferntree Gully this arvo so more than happy to lend you my kit if you like.

Cheers

John

luvemfast:
I would have thought that you'd be ok to tack with argoshield and S/S wire.
But John thinks there is flux cored wire, that would be better

handsandwhich:
Answers to your questions.

1. Yes, but highly expensive and probably would need to buy a whole roll
2. Yes, but unless this is ground out later, this is the part that will rust out first.
3. Yes and shouldn't be too much of an issue as long as the welds are not porous.

I'd say make sure you put some anti spatter spray on the bits you don't want to have any weld spatter on. Even if you are just going to do little tacks.

Try to get the thickest walled tubing you can get, (or match the existing tubing) to help minimize cracking due to the expansion and contraction of the stainless.

Wayne G:
when I worked in an exhaust shop making stainless systems, we used the mig with mild wire to spot the system together and then finished the job with stainless TIG. We never had any problems or complaints.

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