welding SS and aluminum

[dan2288]

can it be done? I have an aluminum BOV flange that I need to put on my SS pipe.

 

[ziggo0]

good surface prep, mig weld, low voltage, wouldn't try it if you are a beginner.

 

[Rob10_99]

Uhm, not worth ruining both pieces is it? then don't try, get an adapter.
http://www.esabna.com/us/en/education/knowledge/qa/Can-I-Weld-Aluminum-to-Steel.cfm

 

[dan2288]

great, now I gotta spend $30 for a steel greedy bov flange.

 

[Lofty]

If you need to weld aluminum/stainless go find a Tig welder, because welding Stainless and Aluminum on a mig DOES NOT WORK. Also, just have someone else do it, so you don't mess anything up.

 

[tkelly27]

good surface prep, mig weld, low voltage, wouldn't try it if you are a beginner.

Lol, what? You can kinda... stick them together, but it's a very weak weld, if you can call it that. One time I was using SS rod on Al by accident, weld was yucky.

That bimetalic thing would be a nightmare and probably cost more than just getting the proper flange.

The greddy/1g style flange can easily be made with a drill and flat stock. It's just 3 holes. if you have a big diameter pipe (2" or bigger) a section of ~1" steel tube works good to set it off the pipe.

 

[Project2G]

Welding aluminum piping: Best practices, differences between aluminum and steel pipe welding

 

[My1GLaser]

Check an exhaust shop and they might have one thats close enough. Maybe quite a bit cheaper and you don't have to wait for shipping. Maybe not, but its worth a shot.

And no you can't weld AL to SS, especially not in something that needs to be leak free and hold 20-30 psi.

 

[clone]

great, now I gotta spend $30 for a steel greedy bov flange.

no offense but come off it.

$30 isn't a lot of money...... it's less than a tank of gas for petes sake.

just do it right so you don't regret it later.

again no offense & I wouldn't have said anything other than the weld will be super weak had you not posted again complaining about the cost but if you are entering into your DSM project with this level of frugality I don't believe your car will last very long given the likelyhood your timing belt is duct taped together to cover the cracks.

 

[falcon8r]

You will have to buy a steel or stainless flange to weld to stainless. Aluminum can't be welded to ferris metals. A mig welder properly set up will weld aluminum well. A TIG -tungstin inert gas is the easier way to weld aluminum. This is because of greater control of the heat /polarity and filler rod. A low cost mig welder with the proper wire and gas will weld most all of the steel and stainless that you will encounter. Stainless is not too far mild steel in it's mixup. It is not an ideal weld by professional standards, but one your local muffler shop does on all it's jobs for example. Aluminum is a different animal and stays in it's own place. Do yourself a favor and do some wiki or something on welding and metalurgy. Tres...

 

[TheBoz]

, hell ya go for it. That is awesome.

 

[TFFC]

Not Possible, its like trying to weld plastic to steel, just doesn't work. You can't do Stainless steel to alum or regurlar steel to alum. Buy the adapter for $30 and do it right.

 

[moi1463]

This is kinna off toppic, but isn't the greddy upper pipes aluminum? You can go that way!

 

[dan2288]

I am just gonna buy the steel flange then. Or, My bro has an old pipe with the flange on that I could just cut off and get it welded on. I just have to ask him.

 

[rw87tt]

ROAD RACE ENG. on this site has the flange you are looking for and they say they will throw in that little piece of pipe for free with the right attitude.