welding exhaust question

[crny1]

Well this is my first post on this site so I would like to say HELLO to everyone first!!!
I have a Devils Advocate Pro Street with the standard Big Bear pipes. The pipes are chrome plated. Where the 2 pipes come close together there is a tab welded on each one and then the 2 tabs are bolted together....... one of the pipes tabs has broke the pipe completely around it and is letting the pipe vibrate. Not that its vibrating and rattling but the black carbon coming out on the pipe is driving me nuts!!! My question is can the tab be welded with like a tig welder and not ruin and discolor the finish on the pipe? I am not sure one could even weld over chrome plating or not??? I dont really wanna buy a new pipe all together. Any thoughts? Can it be done? I know I personally could MIG weld it together but I know it would discolor it bad and the splatter would be tough to keep off the finish.
Suggestions?

Thanks
Wes

[Pete Logan]

You can't weld chrome - it has to come off.

You could get it rechromed.

Personally, I would grind the chrome off just where you need to weld, and then seriously consider brazing it. Then mask over the brazing and use a DupliColor Zinc primer and Chrome spray to cover the area.

Brazing actually looks nice on an exhaust

[sirbOOm]

The heck is brazing?

[Ozbiker69]

yep Brazing or TIG weld it. But you will have a chrome problem at worksite.

[crny1]

Thanks guys.... I figured the plating would cause a problem with the weld and I assumed TIG would be the best shot! At any rate thanks for the replys!!!

Wes

[vlade]

Originally Posted by sirbOOm

The heck is brazing?

Generally a brass filler rod applied to a joint to be welded with an Oxy acetylene torch. Can be used on iron, steel, etc. dissimilar metals.

akin to soldering

[Pete Logan]

Yep. It can also be done with Oxy-Propane as it requires less heat than welding (cheaper). For strength it is stronger than soldering but not as strong as welding. Can be used to join two dissimilar metals. Produces a brass-colored bead that looks kinda old school. Many old school British bike frames were brazed rather than welded, so it's plenty strong enough for an exhaust.

[Badassbrutus]

Mig it by spot welding dump water on it brush paint ur welds with engine enamel and poilish the rest of the chorme done dealio dont over think it.

I thought I was the only one still burning coathangers.....lol