Weld quality comparison............ - SRT Forums

SCOTT@MAXXFAB · 08-03-2006, 08:24 PM

Just wanted to show the differnce between another vendors welding, and a typical MAXX FAb weld.

Their welds:

And our welds:

We not be the cheapest, but we think we do give the best bang for the buck.

Tex · 08-03-2006, 08:27 PM

scott, the only problem with your parts is that yoru flanges are thick. i had to go out and buy new harware!!!!!!!

hahaha, nice welds

jg-srt · 08-03-2006, 08:32 PM

Those are some very nice welds.

gdflys · 08-11-2006, 04:15 PM

Scott. That exhaust looks very familiar. Hmmm I think maybe it's the one I had rushed to me for Nationals in two days. The system was fabbed up under another car to assure proper fitment. This was the first system made so was being cut and welded and readjusted under the car to get the fitment perfect. Had this exhaust been made on a bench with jigs as all of this "other" vendor's product are, the welds would be much better quality. These welds were done with a 110V welder under the car not a 220V on a bench like normal customer products.

You are also comparing and aluminized steel versus Stainless weld. I'm sure you know how different welding stainless v/s aluminized steel is. Anyway I thank you for not making this a vendor slam, especialy since this vendor went above and beyond to get me an exhaust system put togther and shipped in 2 days. The vendor still was not satified with the exhaust's design and made several improvements before starting to ship out exhausts to his cutomers.

I'm sure you don't post up your test fits/ mock ups and post up pictures of them to show what your customers can expect. Hopefully you will agree that the comparison between these two welds is unfair at the least. The vendor even stated that the welds were ugly and not up to his standards. I told him I don't care I need it on the car yesturday.

SCOTT@MAXXFAB · 08-11-2006, 07:46 PM

Is the comparison fair??? They were the ones who made a system that they knew was being installed at a national meet. It was their call to release it. Personally, I wouldn't reduce the quality of a product just to rush it out the door to make a time line .....and have it installed at a national meet no less where a lot of poterntial customers can see the quality of the product. I know you had contacted us several times about interest in our dual tip systems, and I guess you got tired of waiting.......and that's understadable. It's cool the vendor worked with you to get the exhaust to you in two days and I'm glad you liked what you received for your money, that's the important thing.

Each piece would have been fitted, then tack welded, then the next piece fitted and tack welded and so on till the system was complete. Then the system should have been removed from the car, then fully welded on the floor/bench so you can get a better gun position on the joint. Having jigs has nothing to do with the quality of the welds.

The choice of using a 110 welder or 220 shouldn't make any difference on the weld quality either if the machine is set up properly and the joint is prepped correctly. We have two work stations here. If the work station with the Miller 210 is being used, I use the other station that has a 110...a POS Lincoln welder that can be bought at Home depot. The welds look identical. The only issue is the 110 has a short duty cycle.

Also if the material would have been prepped properly (the aluminized coating removed before welding...easily done with a sander) the welds would have come out better. Welding the joint with the coating on puts imperfections in the weld. That was one of the issues that let to the welds in that pic.

Actually, welding stainless with stainless wire is more difficult than welding aluminized....even with the coating on. The chromium in the stainless means more heat is needed (easier to blow through the tubing), an the puddle cools quicker. There's less time to move the puddle and make it look good also.

As far as the pics....they were sent to me by a customer. The only info I had is that it was from another vendor (didn't know which one till you posted). I had no idea if it was going on a car, or if it was for display (until you posted).

If you think the welding comparison is unfair...that's your opinion. But, you might be a little biased (the system is under your car). Just becuase the vendor did you a favor, doesn't mean their work is quality work. Making a quality weld does not take that much extra time (if you have the experience/skill)....and certainly wouldn't have made your exhaust late going out the door. I've seen previous work from them ........and this isn't that far off as far as the quality.....it's not as if I'm talking out my but here. Put our production stuff beside theirs.....and the difference would be obvious in both design and exicution. Ask anyone who's seen both companies products......especially considering that out parts and theirs cost almost the same.........and considering we use stainless and they used aluminized.

gdflys · 08-12-2006, 06:12 AM

Quote: Originally Posted by SCOTT@MAXXFAB

As far as the pics....they were sent to me by a customer. The only info I had is that it was from another vendor (didn't know which one till you posted). I had no idea if it was going on a car, or if it was for display (until you posted).

Put our production stuff beside theirs....

That's why I posted. I know who sent it. I wanted to make sure people knew that this exhaust wasn't production and was a rush job to say the least. It wasn't a show piece it was layed out behind my car while waiting to be installed at the event. That's how rushed it was I installed it at the event.

I'm not questioning your workmanship at all. It's easy to see the time and care you put into your products. Like you said I was waiting for yours but ran out of time. Your right though as this is just my opinion. Making a comparison of true production products would be fair, whatever the result, but this isn't.

By the way thanks for supporting the Nationals again this year. It's very much appreciated.