Whats everyone using for V bands on their hotside?
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Joined: Feb 2008
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From: IOWA
I can understand people wanting to make sure its a true surface. Just like a blown head gasket and over heating the motor. Some people will swear you don't need to surface the head. Other people want to know they have a true surface before they put the thing together and potentially find out otherwise.
I can see how the sticking out of the flange could help seal it/hold it together.
Im not understanding why you couldn't file the mating surface on the lipped vbands? Im clearly missing something. You guys are refering the the two mating surfaces of the flanges, held together by the clamp. correct?
I can see how the sticking out of the flange could help seal it/hold it together.
Im not understanding why you couldn't file the mating surface on the lipped vbands? Im clearly missing something. You guys are refering the the two mating surfaces of the flanges, held together by the clamp. correct?
I've worked with both the flat and flanged...and to each there own really. I've never had to deal with any warping issues. So I prefer the positive register so that while I tack everything in place while it is clamped I don't have to fear any movement at the clamps.
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 315
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From: IOWA
Im not understanding why you couldn't file the mating surface on the lipped vbands? Im clearly missing something. You guys are refering the the two mating surfaces of the flanges, held together by the clamp. correct?
The side with the female register could be filed or "lapped".
The side with the male register probably couldn't be done in a way that would make it better.
If you're on a cold side, use the registers, file or lap the female side to make you happy, install the o-ring and you will have trouble free clamps longer than the combo will be together.
The flat v flanges work. There is a neat little trick of pushing one on a little further letting some of the pipe out. Then welding the other a little shallow to register the pipe. This is the exact same principle as a registered flange, except you don't have to measure and possibly have to sit there and hand/file fit the thing together if you didn't get it square (it was good unitl the registered flanges came about, now that process is obsolete and a waist of time).
I just like knowing 100% that I have a free flowing system that the registers provide. If the flat flanges are used and the pipes have tweaked even the slightest amount, you will not have a 100% perfect transition as some of the flange will hang over the edge of the other. It won't be much, but it will be there.
The side with the male register probably couldn't be done in a way that would make it better.
If you're on a cold side, use the registers, file or lap the female side to make you happy, install the o-ring and you will have trouble free clamps longer than the combo will be together.
The flat v flanges work. There is a neat little trick of pushing one on a little further letting some of the pipe out. Then welding the other a little shallow to register the pipe. This is the exact same principle as a registered flange, except you don't have to measure and possibly have to sit there and hand/file fit the thing together if you didn't get it square (it was good unitl the registered flanges came about, now that process is obsolete and a waist of time).
I just like knowing 100% that I have a free flowing system that the registers provide. If the flat flanges are used and the pipes have tweaked even the slightest amount, you will not have a 100% perfect transition as some of the flange will hang over the edge of the other. It won't be much, but it will be there.
Have you tried clamping the mating flange on when when welding? This will prevent distortion. Its good to always have one extra Vband assembly laying around for this purpose.
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
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From: IOWA
I was reading that you cant just mig steel to stainless. That you had to get a different wire and gas. Does this sound correct? I would preferre to have them tigged. I would assume its the same principles on that though as well. Thank you for the replys.
I got my Vbands from Columbia River.
They make the flanges in house. I watched them making them.
Mild steel. Welded with wire feed. Flat no register.
Mine did warp a smidge. I lapped with sand paper on alum plate.
Just another option
So, after the fact I didn't like the alignment so I cut some 1/2" slices of SS tubing and tacked in one side. Works great. No leaks at all.
They make the flanges in house. I watched them making them.
Mild steel. Welded with wire feed. Flat no register.
Mine did warp a smidge. I lapped with sand paper on alum plate.
Just another option
So, after the fact I didn't like the alignment so I cut some 1/2" slices of SS tubing and tacked in one side. Works great. No leaks at all.
