I think I have read 20 sites that lead me to 30 conclusions about what to use.

Right now I have an Argon/c02 mix and would be as happy as a pig in **** if I could use that with some basic stainless welding wire.

I'm trying to weld a bike muffler back together, I dont think its very thin but its certainly not thick. Its probably .040-.080

Any ideas? Can it be mig'd?

 

Yea you can use it, it won't hold the same propeties of a proper stainless weld but it'll stick together.

 

you need tri mix to weld stainless correctly but you can use steel wire and 75/25 and it will stick together

 

It will work but it will rust. Tri-mix makes things a whole lot easier and it helps keep the stainless properties that you wanted when you chose stainless for the project.


If it rusts then what the hell was the point of buying stainless in the first place?

 

never used tri-mix, but 100% argon works much better than 75/25 in my experience

 

you need tri mix. helium, argon, and co2. its alittle more expencive than argon/co2. you can use the regular mix, but it will turn black, and can rust. using the tri mix works great. on a side note. never use the tri mix to weld normal steel with stainless wire. it does not weld good at all, and leaks. with the steel wire it welds better but can still leak. use tri for stainless wire/stainless material, and 75/25 mix for steel wire/steel material.

 

Use 100% argon. Do not use any other mix with CO2. CO2 is carbon dioxide. The last thing you want to add in STAINLESS STEEL is carbon. That is what makes it rust. Depending on what grade of stainless your bike muffler is, probably 316 because it polishes up very nice, you need to weld it with either 316/316L, or 308/308L.