ive been reading a lot about it cause ive been looking at the idea of designing a couple of exhaust systems and i want those to look awesome. so i read i can weld stainless with a mig machine.

the question is: can i fluxcore weld it???

what is the roll i need if i can???

can the lincoln weld pak 100 handle it???

i am at zero point here so i want to know everything concerning costs, procedures, safety technics

is chrome a cheaper and better option. what is involved in chroming???


already read most of the metalurgy article

I've never seen flux-core for SS, but I haven't looked very hard either.

You'll need SS mig wire and and whats commonly known as tri-mix gas (CO2,Argon,Helium) I believe.

100 amps is plenty for SS exhaust pipe.

I've never seen flux-core for SS, but I haven't looked very hard either.

You'll need SS mig wire and and whats commonly known as tri-mix gas (CO2,Argon,Helium) I believe.

100 amps is plenty for SS exhaust pipe.

x2

There IS SS flux core, we use it Dual shielded(ar/co2 mix) and in the spray transfer process. You wouldnt want to use it in this application. What grade SS depends on what wire you will need. It can be done with a MIG and SS hard wire and tri mix gas.
Safety, a respirator with replacable filters specifically for welding fumes. We use the 3M ones that are pink(dont know model number). If you want it to "look awesome" then I would suggest VERY good fit up and TIG welding it. BUT if you are looking into production work then this wouldnt really be feasable right off the bat.

From reading some of your other posts I don't know if you are going to be willing to spend the $$ required to do this in a safe manner that would produce satisfactory welds.

Respirator & suitable filters: $50
Bottle of Tri-Mix: $100+
Gas kit for weld-pak: $100
New liner & contact tips: $15
Filler: $20

If you are new to welding SS especially with short circuit and thin material I would strongly consider using 309LSi filler as the ~0.8% Si content will improve wetting and washing behavior. 309 filler will also be satisfactory for welding most if not all 300 and 400 series stainless commonly used together in an exhaust application.

Your best bet for filler would be Harris-Welco as they have many different diameters of hard filler and AWS classifications available in 2# and 10# spools. 309LSi is available in 2# spools in 0.025, 0.030, 0.035 and 0.045” from them; I would be inclined to use the 0.025” filler.

Ballpark guess for a consumer buying this would be $20 for a 2# spool and $60 for a 10# spool of 309LSi hard wire. What the situation would be like in PR I have no idea though.
There are many options for gas shielded metal cored and flux cored filler that will work great with 75/25 or 100% CO2 but finding them in the combination of small diameter and packaging you would need for economy is not likely, nor are they well suited for your usage or machine. A 30# spool of any of the metal or flux cored wires would cost more than your welder...

i started reading about chroming and the process involved in it.

this is a stupid question here in pbb where function over form prevails,

has anybody done the chemical process involved in chroming??

how expensive and overall hard to find are those products??


i guess stainless is out of the budget

Depending on your application and how you wish your exhaust system to appear, why not use galvanized or "alluminized" exhaust pipe? SS exhaust pipes are $$$ and chrome exhaust pipes can be just as expensive, experience bluing, rusting, and delamination, etc. as well. Also, proper chrome plating is not something one can achieve in their backyard or living room for that matter.

i started reading about chroming and the process involved in it.

this is a stupid question here in pbb where function over form prevails,

has anybody done the chemical process involved in chroming??

how expensive and overall hard to find are those products??


i guess stainless is out of the budget

And you don't even want to think about chrome plating it yourself. Nasty chemicals, nasty fumes and the chance of you getting the proper technique down to make it come out right are about nill. Then you'll also have the EPA and everyone else crawling up your ass about the chemical waste products. If you want it chromed, take it to professionals. There's lots of them out there who can hard chrome it for you, but it has to be over a copper and/ or a nickel plated surface. Believe it or not chrome is porous and you'll rust through it unless you have the other layers there.

Why not send it out to be coated with one of the many chrome-like ceramic coatings. Durable, inexpensive, and helps keep heat in the exhaust.

http://performancecoatings.com/performancecoatings.html

for example.

Also, proper chrome plating is not something one can achieve in their backyard or living room for that matter.

Just about fell out of my chair! Understatement of the year!

You've got to know your stuff in order to weld stainless. Back gassing is extremely important when doing tube work. If you don't purge the pipe with tri-mix when you weld, the backside of the weld (inside of the pipe) WILL crack. I have never used anything but TIG on stainless, and the one time I didn't back gas the tube, the weld cracked and water pressure was lost.

You would be MUCH better off getting it chromed by a professional.

Yes you can MIG stainless. The Tri mix gas is a good all around shop gas; good for mild steel, ok for stainless and bronze, but not the best for any of them. If I had to but one bottle of gas, tri mix or gold gas or 75% argon, and 25% co2 would be my pick. But if you want the best welds that you and your welder can do on stanless then you would use 100% argon. Thin material and MIG welding don't go along all that well, and this is especially tru with thin stainless. Find a buddy with a TIG setup, and some experience with the ever fickle and moving material, and get him a six pack.