Welding Aluminumized Steel to Stainless Steel?

[fasttback]

Like the subject indicated...it this possible with 80 (argon) / 20 (c02) gas? Should I use a different gas mixture or just purchase all stainless steel tubing?

This is for an exhaust system with aluminumized steel tubing and stainless steel mufflers.

 

[Jester67]

You should be able to do it. Just grind the aluminum from the area to weld. The aluminize pipe is mild steal and I have welded mild steal to Stainless steal before.

 

[88gt]

it's the wire you use more than the shielding gas you need to worry about. I don't recall the type of wire(rod) to use, check with your local welding supplier for more specifics.

 

[TOM B]

Like Jester67 said, grind the aluminumized pipe a little the just use the mig welder to weld it, to stop it from rusting at the weld and around it use some High temp paint. VHT is the best for this.

 

[JDS68Stang]

it's the wire you use more than the shielding gas you need to worry about. I don't recall the type of wire(rod) to use, check with your local welding supplier for more specifics.

Think your right on that, been a long while since welding school but if I recall, stainless needs a stainless rod/wire

 

[Stang2Man]

I worked in a fab shop where we dealt with galvanized and aluminized materials and welding them to stainless parts. You can use stainless wire on any other metal. You'll pay a little more for the wire but you'll be able to use it up, and have a better welds in the end.

 

[10secgoal]

It'll be fine. the steel wire will rust like it always does. But it'll go to SS just fine.

 

[Jsprint68]

So you don’t have to get a different spool?

Don’t want to hijack this but I have one of the SS Magnaflow kits and have to well the rear gangs that are supplied to the tailpipe. Can’ see buying a whole spool of SS wire just to do that.

 

[JDS68Stang]

So you don’t have to get a different spool?

Don’t want to hijack this but I have one of the SS Magnaflow kits and have to well the rear gangs that are supplied to the tailpipe. Can’ see buying a whole spool of SS wire just to do that.

One suggestion would be if you can tack weld all the pieces in place then call a few welding shops and get a few quotes on having them finish up w/ stainless
If I made the investment in a stainless exaust I'd go the distance and keep it all stainless (welds).

 

[Stang2Man]

if you got all the parts you may be able to buddy up with a shop that would the hangers on for you for little to no charge, if you weld mild steel hangers to stainless system with mild wire, you'll contaminate the SS and cause the system to begin rusting out.

 

[Jsprint68]

Now that I think about it I have the 2.5 to 3.5” Magnaflow slash cut tips (18" long) and I will not be able to use the stock mounting holes in the frame near the shackle so I will have to do something different anyway.

 

[Jester67]

One suggestion would be if you can tack weld all the pieces in place then call a few welding shops and get a few quotes on having them finish up w/ stainless
If I made the investment in a stainless exaust I'd go the distance and keep it all stainless (welds).

Agreed if you are welding, SS to steal is on thing but if you are welding SS to SS then it is best to have it Tig’ed. If you Mig it you will need the wire and a different shielding gas 75/25 is not the correct mix you will need Helium mix or Argon mix. A lot of expense and work to set up for a one-time job.

 

[JDS68Stang]

Edit: deleted my post, misunderstanding.