anybody used solar flux instead of back purging when welding up manifolds ?with tig welding or can it be used

 

it looks like it can be an alternative, you mix it with alcohol and paste it on the back side of a joint. but for ~50$ for a pound I think that I will stick with back purging

 

haha, a pound would last for years and years.

I use it, works pretty good.

I bought just a few ounces of it and have been using it for months.

 

sounds good

 

I use it on large diameter tube. IE: downpipe/up-pipe stuff. Works pretty good and there is hardly any sugaring. Helps with penetration too.

 

Could you post pics of the results please? I'd like to see what it looks like. Does it affect the welding at all?

 

x2 would be nice to see

 

I don't use it much, but I found the best method was to brush the insides, tack the pieces, then wire brush the joint really well before welding. Seemed to me any excess would make it weld/look like crap

 

Solar flux works well. This stuff goes a very long way so it may seem expensive but its lasts. I used it all the time when I did a lot of stainless exhaust systems.

 

Solar flux does work well, it's somewhat pricey, and probably not as good as just running an additional hose and back purging with argon

 

I can't get pics now, but I will next time I use it....

 

it works really well for what it is. when i was working at a chassis shop they always used it on any stainless stuff n/a headers, turbo headers, dp, etc and havent had any problems

 

also i just found this post by david@didrace.com when i was looking around on google for pics 9bells

"Welding stainless steel w/ Solar Flux

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I know quite a few people come on here asking about backpurging and I'll mention using Solar Flux every now and then but haven't seen any pictures of it being used so I figured I'd post some up.

Solar Flux is silica based, and when heat is applied to it it turns into glass. When you buy it, it is a powder and you mix it with acetone or brake cleaner and it'll form a paste. I typically buy the empty pint sized paint cans w/ lids at Home Depot and a bristle type brush to mix/apply it. I'd only recommend using Solar Flux on a turbo-back exhaust because there is always a chance of the glass on the backside of the weld falling off and causing damage to something spinning at 10,000 rpms + .

On with the pics - 2.5" 304 Stainless w/ a 309L filler, Lincoln Precision TIG 375 w/ max amps set to 37, 100% argon at 25 flow, gas lense w/ a #7 cup, red 3/32" tungsten "



also check out this link....http://www.motoiq.com/magazine_artic...tion-tips.aspx

 

Seems good thanks for the picture ,as you were saying might be better just to back purge for turbo manifold

 

I use it on manifolds, alot of people do.

I don't see how it would damage a turbo, its not like what your thinking. I def wouldn't consider it anything like glass.

 

Anyone have any information on where to buy this?

 

weldingsupply dot com burnsstainless also has it

 

http://www.spdexhaust.com/

 

My local Airgas had it on the shelf.

I would advise against using it on manifolds. Can't beat backpurging with those. It does create a thin glass like substance, but it's pretty brittle and shouldn't cause and problems with a turbine wheel.

 

Doesen't brake cleaner + welding = death?

 

I always mixed it with alcohol, which is also very flammable. The point is it evaporates before you weld and leaves behind the solar flux.

 

When i welded aircraft exhausts we used solar flux all the time.