Anybody have the same problem? Everytime I weld v-band flanges to a tube they tend to warp slightly. Even with the whole assembly tightened up nicely I always get a little bit of a warp. I always test them by putting it up to the light and looking through the matting surfaces and I can see a hairline amount of light. I use mild steel flanges from CRMB over the SS flanges just to avoid this problem. I have to use a belt sander to flatten them afterwards, which is annoying. Anyone else feeling my pain?

 

I just tighten them tight and then allow them to cool off before opening them up. If you weld it then immediately disassemble the flange it may still warp.

 

Are you welding them super hot or super slow? I weld v-bands and i don't get warping that would be considered an issue. Welder usually set at 80 amps if that helps gauge heat input. i also don't weld them all together as i hate taking the time to put tighten them all up.

 

i made some aluminum heat sinks for welding mine. i clamp it to that and it seems to help.

 

I just clamp mine tight and weld. Like said before wait until they're fully cooled before taking the clamp off.

 

Same here, I clamp them down tight, weld, let cool. Sometimes I don't even let them cool and don't recall ever having a problem with warping. The ones I use have a thin lip that the tube inserts into, which helps because it takes very little heat to weld them.

 

Yea, just don't overpower the amp on it. I never clamp my vband together, and I dont ever see warping? Key, Low heat!

 

Yea never had warping issues and i dont clamp mine either

 

Who makes that flange kit?Thanks

 

Looks like a vibrant assembly.

 

I do move pretty quickly while maintaining good gas coverage and getting nice color. HAZ is pretty uniform. Maybe I am going a little hot. I do pulse the pedal to keep heat to a minimum which works great but Ill have to try even less heat. I am using a transformer machine so I have to do it the old school way

 

Look into getting some thicker flanges!

All the mild steel one I have used, SUCKED. Period. Oddly, they all seemed to be made so thin, not sure why. lol..

Tho, try to find a flange with good height on the weld end, it will provide a good wall to prevent it from flexing and warping...

 

If you get the tube to fit up really tight, clamp the whole deal, and put as little heat in as possible it will minimize any warping. You can have a little and they will still seal fine though. Also, clock the two sides the way they will be installed on the car, that way the warp tends to match and fit up tighter once installed.

 

I get mine made by a local machinist. Too hot is likely the real story, but design is a consideration. AS mentioned, gaps will want to distort in some way, so minimize them as best you can.

 

Thought I'd throw in that I don't always clamp them, and have never really had one warp on me.

For exhaust V-bands, I rarely clamp them down. But for Tial V-band wastegates, I always do. I had one warp so badly once, the valve seat wouldn't fit into the recess.

 

I use the Vibrant Assemblies on my car and have never warped one, always clamped them together tightly and let them cool before taking the clamp off.

 

I just ordered another 4" v-band assembly from CRMB. We'll see how it turns out this time around. Goona try using less heat for sure. The only downfall is the tube fitment inside the flange. Its not a really tight fit, I have maybe a 1/16" gap on one side while the other side the tube and flange are touching eachother. Id like to try the Vibrant v-bands but the price is rediculous!

 

You typically get what you pay for, sucks because I have a tendency to tighten them a little too much and I have stripped them all, so now they all have double nuts on them...lol I am using them on my exhaust too more than likely so I hope I dont do it again, I use their stuff because a shop near me practically stocks their entire catalog.

 

Just weld them cold, and it helps to weld them on an aluminum block if you're going fast. We've welded a couple thousand vbands joints this year (atleast), and haven't warped more then a handful.

 

I have never really followed the cliché rules of welding when it comes to welding v-bands; I use the slip fit bands, grab some 0.025" wire, set the welder for like 120A and move at what seems like 1000 inches per second. No problems.