Sure you can.
Remember that this is not a filler tube to a ice cream machine.

Unless its a full race exhaust system I really wouldn't worry about it.

...zap!

 

You don't need to buy a second argon tank and regulator. You can either buy a true dual regulator, that is meant to run the welder and the purge off of the same bottle, or just buy a "Y" fitting for your existing regulator and attach a second hose.

That said, as a professional, I cannot advocate that anybody knowingly perform substandard work because it's "good enough." There's always a right and proper way to do things, and things should be done that way.

 

Think about how many stainless exhaust systems are out there in use that didn't have a back purged weld....
Even if your blind that will work for your needs.........

 

Ur gona wanna back purge unless ur really carefull. There's a thread on here about back purging from a couple days ago and a member shows a pic of a simple duel flow meter with a simple fitting. You can just use a really cheap regulator for the purge one. Thats a nice looking exuast you made there! What's the collector size vs the tube size?that thing is gona be loud

 

Thanks. It's 1.5" tube into a 2" collector/muffler.

 

Solar flux is a great low cost alternative to purging but only good if you can get in there to apply it. You would still want to tack it beforehand. So I don't think Solar Flux is your solution. It does work well though.

I agree with above posts. Purging is great if you invest in the flowmeters, and hose. But if not winging it would suffice. I would invest in a dual flowmeter. These look nice for the price. http://www.usaweld.com/Dual-Flowmeter-with-Backpurge-p/dualflowmeter.htm

 

The cheapest route would be to just get a Y for the argon hose and buy a section of hose and connect that up to the flow meter. Then get some steel wool to wrap around the end of the hose to fit in the pipe to hold it in and plug the opposite end. If you are feeling really froggy, you can get some aluminized tape to wrap around the weld joint to hold the purge gas in.

 

This has to be the simplest purge set-up. Simple 'y'....one hose to torch and the other on a valve controlled lead. Tape tubing leaving a relief hole, crack feeder line for 20-30 seconds, turn feeder down to trickle, weld normally. It'll work fine for an exhaust system. Try it before investing in dual flowmeters.

 

Thanks for all of the responses. It sounds like I could get away with it, but shouldn't. I am going to set up a back purge with a "Y" fitting for now, and probably invest in a dual regulator down the road.

 

Why by a $40 jar of solar flux crap when a $5 flow meter and a $5 "T" fitting and you can do it right. Even in a pinch the above setup with a "Y" and valve will work, you just have to turn up your flow to compensate for how much you are bleeding off.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk

 

$5 flow meter

Really? Got a link to this?

 

No need to purge exhausts. I only purge collectors and manifolds.

 

Totally agree.

They are just making a mountain out of a molehill....


...zap!

 

http://m.ebay.com/itm/1-4PT-0-15-MP...Thread-7mm-Barb-Argon-Gas-Flow-Meter-Welding-Regulator-/182045497394?nav=SEARCH

Except you have to convert to standard from sillymeters.

 

This used one is still at $2.25 and free shipping. Looks to be a Victor hrf1425. The price of a hose may kill ya tho.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Radnor-HRF-...ium-Duty-Regulator-Welding-/111959520359?hash=item1a114eb467:g:D0QAAOSwoudW7HYr

 

Solar flux does work really, really well as long as you can get it in there and it can't hurt anything when it flakes/chips off.