Saturday, June 7, 2014
How to Weld an Exhaust System Pipe
Welding is a skill that some people take years to perfect, and it can be done in a multitude of different ways. One of the most common and inexpensive methods of welding is MIG welding, which will work perfectly for an exhaust system. Welding two exhaust pipes together will seal the joint and make the exhaust system leak-free. This is a complicated process and should be done by someone with experience in welding; otherwise, you risk injury.
Instructions
- 1
Jack up the car using a jack and put it on four jack stands. Make sure there is enough room for you to move easily around the underside of the car. Crawl underneath the car and locate the section of exhaust tubing you want to weld. Examine the wall thickness of the tubing.
2Compare the wall thickness of the tubing with the system setup diagram on the inside cover of the welder. Set your welder to the settings listed for that gauge of metal. These settings will vary with each welder.
3Clamp the exhaust lines together using the exhaust clamp, making sure to butt the two pieces of exhaust tubing together perfectly. Put on the welding helmet and gloves.
4Set the ground clamp for the welder on the exhaust. Place the end of the welder approximately 1/8 inch away from the surface of the exhaust. Pull the trigger. Work the puddle you see through the helmet into crescent shapes, working your way back and forth until you have a 1 inch long weld. Repeat the process on the other side of the exhaust clamp.
5Remove the exhaust clamp then weld the remaining perimeter of the exhaust tubing. Remove the vehicle from the jack stands using the jack.
Monday, November 4, 2013
How do I Purge a Pipe for TIG Welding
Purging a pipe involves inducing an inert gas into the pipe to remove reactive atmospheric gases from the welding area. An inert gas atmosphere eliminates oxidation from forming on the backside of the weld. Oxidation forming on the backside or inside of the weld increases friction around the weld joint and causes structural weakness if the oxidation leads to porosity. Use the same type of inert gas for both welding and purging which increases the stability of the weld.
Instructions
- 1
Cover one end of the pipe with masking tape. Cut a small "X" in the center of the masking tape covering the end of the pipe with a utility knife.
2Thread a gas regulator onto a bottle of inert gas. Tighten the regulator with an adjustable wrench.
3Slide the hose coming from the gas regulator into the open end of the pipe.
4Cover the open end of the pipe with masking tape, securing the hose inside of the pipe.
5Purge the pipe. Turn the valve onto of the gas bottle counterclockwise to start gas flowing into the pipe. Allow the pipe to fill with gas for one to five minutes depending on pipe diameter. Cover the cut "X" with masking tape to hold the inert gas in the pipe.
6Allow the inert gas to continue to flow as you weld the pipe seam.