MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

Ok, can I MIG Weld 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40 pipe and fittings with a 140-150 amp mig welder? I mean, my exaust flange is 1/2" thick steel and i can borrow my friends mig welder, should i be able to weld the sched. 40 pipe fittings to the flange with a good weld with such a low amp welder? I dont need to penetrate the flange all the way through, just the pipe fittings right?

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

I dont think so.A 135amp welder will only do 3/16ths.Thats less tha a 1/4 inch.If you do 2 passes you should be ok.

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

Most likely it can, I built my kit with a mig. Its not as clean as a TIG but it does get the job done. multiple passes might be needed

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

Don't take this the wrong way. If you're asking this question then do you have enough experience to weld this part correctly? I would suggest at least buying some scrap metal let's say some sched 40 straight and just some CR plate. Practise welding a few together and cut them apart if you like to see what the penetration is like.

If you're using shielding gas you could try moving to a flux core wire. I hate welding with flux core but it does give better penetration. You can also try moving up to the max size wire. I have a Lincoln MIG Pak 15 220V. I think it's a 135a unit and it doesn't have any problem welding sched 40.

I've also got a L175 Squarewave Pro and it too is up to the task as I've welded sched 40 pipe in the past. I don't think that I even used full power but that crappy 9 series torch that comes with it doesn't like it much :)

-Michael

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

i havent welded too many parts like this dissimilar in thickness, i mean, sched. 40 pipe is prolly 1/4 in or less in thickness and the flange is 1/2" and 1/4" difference is quite sizeable... Im wondering basically are there any tips to make these kind of welds better and get good results?

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

Ive noticed that pre-heating it with a propane torch helps???? just my opinion... I just started welding this weekend... so what the ---- do i know

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

thats what my manifold is made of (----, i think its sched. 40)...and i welded mine with a 110v lincoln welder without gas, no problem. I had mine on either C or D the whole time. Be sure to take long breaks to let things cool

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

With MIG I just try to get the gun very close to the joint I'm welding and point it a little more at the thicker part. As I said get some cheap scrap to practise with first. Also figure out what order you have to weld the parts in so you don't weld yourself in to a corner...

-Michael

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

yeah i think it would do it also, concentrate the puddle more on the 1/2 in stuff, turn up the voltage all the way and turn down wire speed. but be carefule, that thing will warp to ---- and not seal correctly

Re:MIG Welding 1/2" Thick Flanges with Sched 40...
 

people have said you should bolt your flanges to whatever they're going on (meaning the head or turbo... i guess anything flat and solid would work though) to be sure they don't warp too badly.