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What type of metal is the exhaust?
- Thread starter Matthew Jeschke
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strutaeng
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Oh, great point @PPV_2018 on PPE. I friggin HATE to see these idiots on YT videos welding with shorts, flip flops and no welding gloves!
I've gotten burned by bbs flying all over the place. They can burn through ordinary sneakers and fall on your toes. Ouch! Rookie mistake. I've heard stories of them getting into your ear canal! Yikes!
You can a real bad sunburn welding with short sleeves or shorts, especially when welding on moderate amperages. SMH.
I'm only a hobbyist welder as well, but PPE is something I always use.
I've gotten burned by bbs flying all over the place. They can burn through ordinary sneakers and fall on your toes. Ouch! Rookie mistake. I've heard stories of them getting into your ear canal! Yikes!
You can a real bad sunburn welding with short sleeves or shorts, especially when welding on moderate amperages. SMH.
I'm only a hobbyist welder as well, but PPE is something I always use.
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Matthew Jeschke
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@strutaeng haha reminds me of a story. My neighbor is a legit welder. Now retired and in his 70's super nice guy. He sold me the equipment. After my welds broke several times I called him up to ask for tips. He taught me a ton, and welded my little splice in the exhaust up for me. It only took him a very short time to do that (3 minutes?). However, he had tshirt and shorts / welding hood on. I thought hey I can weld in t-shirt and shorts... so I practiced for a whole afternoon in t-shirt and shorts. You can guess the outcome... but suffice to say the least I was SUPER red and in a bit of pain lol
Yes, that’s the machine.
For your eyes, Shade 11 or darker glass filter plate with a proper welding hood(helmet).
I prefer fixed lens myself, but auto-darkening is not a bad option.
Yeppp.. and to that point:
For clarity when i say it doesn’t really matter, i mean welderBro™ fashion doesn’t really matter. Like it doesn’t have to be name brand gloves and $150 carhartt FR shirts, just a simple old cotton welding jacket and stuff does just as good. Definitely use all required PPE but at some point you will get burned by sparks/slag/etc.. skin heals but eyes don’t. Protect your eyes no matter the cost.
Live & ya learn..
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Matthew Jeschke
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Thanks @PPV_2018 I'd been welding in a flame resistant flight suit. I noticed some of that slag will burn through it. They make a shirt or coat for welding in?
Another note, anybody know the makes or models of GMT800 that had dual exhaust from factory? My goal is to eventually convert, build, or purchase that OEM exhaust and swap into it a Gibson muffler. If I knew how to weld it would make it a lot easier. I pulled off a Denali? at junkyard the muffler side but they unfortunately, destroy the cat side when they process the vehicles otherwise, I'd have had a direct bolt on dual exhaust. I DON'T want two mufflers though, just one with two inputs / dual pipes back to the BIG single muffler.
Another note, anybody know the makes or models of GMT800 that had dual exhaust from factory? My goal is to eventually convert, build, or purchase that OEM exhaust and swap into it a Gibson muffler. If I knew how to weld it would make it a lot easier. I pulled off a Denali? at junkyard the muffler side but they unfortunately, destroy the cat side when they process the vehicles otherwise, I'd have had a direct bolt on dual exhaust. I DON'T want two mufflers though, just one with two inputs / dual pipes back to the BIG single muffler.
A FR flight suit is probably fine for what you are doing.
sparks and slag somehow will find it’s way to your skin even if you’re bundled up like an Eskimo. It’s just part of the territory. They make “welding jackets” which are basically button down cotton shirts. They work wonders for light duty welding, but just like anything else wear out over time. Not exactly welderBro™ fashion as they usually come in garish colors like mint green or safety orange. Can probably pick up at your local welding supply shop for $25 or less.
On the opposite end of that spectrum, they certainly do make welding specific full leather jackets that can run hundreds of dollars. Definitely overkill for some light duty/hobby welding but they do make the stuff.
Unfortunately I’m not sure about the dual exhaust. Tried researching parts sites for Escalade’s and denali’s but all looks like single.. sure someone with more knowledge of that will chime in.
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Matthew Jeschke
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@PPV_2018 thanks for the tips! Yeah oddly I pulled what was left of the dual exhaust which looked completely factory at the junkyard but I have never been able to find out which model it came off of. I know it was a GMT800 Escalade or Denali. Maybe they just did a really good job of making aftermarket look factory....
vcode
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Back to the original question, pretty sure they used 400 series (like 430) stainless, which will rust. 300 series would be too expensive for an OEM.
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Matthew Jeschke
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@vcode thanks!
Have any of you used Gibson mufflers? My goal is to put on a Gibson muffler (only) with dual pipes running back to input of muffler. I don't care if it has duals going out. Not sure if that makes a big difference or not. Been studying factory GMT800 configurations as I'd like to copy what factory did as I feel I have best chance to preserve low end torque.
When I looked at Escalaide parts catalog via Rock Auto I found the (second) exhaust I'd cut off at junkyard so I'd have some of the parts for the dual exhaust.
The dual exhaust setup is linked below it's from a 2002 Cadillac Escalade with 6.0L engine.
If I had a welder I could perhaps just rig this same thing up myself but at that point I'd bought the exhaust system.
I've also asked junkyards if they get another one if they can try to save the whole thing for me but they aren't interested. They typically cut pipes in front flange to muffler on engine side then recycle the cats.
Have any of you used Gibson mufflers? My goal is to put on a Gibson muffler (only) with dual pipes running back to input of muffler. I don't care if it has duals going out. Not sure if that makes a big difference or not. Been studying factory GMT800 configurations as I'd like to copy what factory did as I feel I have best chance to preserve low end torque.
When I looked at Escalaide parts catalog via Rock Auto I found the (second) exhaust I'd cut off at junkyard so I'd have some of the parts for the dual exhaust.
The dual exhaust setup is linked below it's from a 2002 Cadillac Escalade with 6.0L engine.
If I had a welder I could perhaps just rig this same thing up myself but at that point I'd bought the exhaust system.
I've also asked junkyards if they get another one if they can try to save the whole thing for me but they aren't interested. They typically cut pipes in front flange to muffler on engine side then recycle the cats.
Shubbydog
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I’ve welded stainless just fine with flux core and with gas welders.
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Matthew Jeschke
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What is a decent enough plasma cutter? These things seem to be all over the map for price...
Back to the exhaust / welding topic...
Since writing this post, I've had to weld my exhaust like another 3 or 4 times
The neighbor kid works on a ranch where he does a bunch of welding for them. They gave him a little stick / flux core wire machine. It's a generic kind of no name thing called a YesWelder. Dumbest name on earth sounds REALLY spamy. I think they bought him a welder with a generator for work and told him to take that one home. Apparently he uses the living crap out of it and it still works.
He stick welded one side of the exhaust which has held PEFECTLY. My welds with the harbor freight monstrosity ALWAYS broke. I did realize I had the wrong welding wire. It had no flux in it, I bought the right wire and that STILL didn't hold.
Long story short, I bought a the same Brand multi purpose welder, specifically a YesWelder DP200, as the neighbor kid. Almost bought the Hobart. But was about 3x as expensive though. On the face, this welder takes a lot of proprietary tips, wands, etc. However, it's base price was well under $500. I ordered it with extra wire, tips, etc and came out to $600. Also not a big fan of an LCD display on a welder as I'm certain everybody's uninvited friend Murphy will break that. However, to learn and for as little welding as I do this should suffice I think. I weld about 3x a year...
I'll give it a try and see how it works. I need to make a bracket to install my onboard air compressor. And a second bracket for my roof light. Possibly also build a gate for my backyard.
Back to the exhaust / welding topic...
Since writing this post, I've had to weld my exhaust like another 3 or 4 times
The neighbor kid works on a ranch where he does a bunch of welding for them. They gave him a little stick / flux core wire machine. It's a generic kind of no name thing called a YesWelder. Dumbest name on earth sounds REALLY spamy. I think they bought him a welder with a generator for work and told him to take that one home. Apparently he uses the living crap out of it and it still works.
He stick welded one side of the exhaust which has held PEFECTLY. My welds with the harbor freight monstrosity ALWAYS broke. I did realize I had the wrong welding wire. It had no flux in it, I bought the right wire and that STILL didn't hold.
Long story short, I bought a the same Brand multi purpose welder, specifically a YesWelder DP200, as the neighbor kid. Almost bought the Hobart. But was about 3x as expensive though. On the face, this welder takes a lot of proprietary tips, wands, etc. However, it's base price was well under $500. I ordered it with extra wire, tips, etc and came out to $600. Also not a big fan of an LCD display on a welder as I'm certain everybody's uninvited friend Murphy will break that. However, to learn and for as little welding as I do this should suffice I think. I weld about 3x a year...
I'll give it a try and see how it works. I need to make a bracket to install my onboard air compressor. And a second bracket for my roof light. Possibly also build a gate for my backyard.
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