# Downpipe Materials Stainless vs Mild Steel

**URL:** <https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266>\
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive\
**Created:** [February 16, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266 "2006-02-16T20:08:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 8\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/1 "2006-02-16T20:08:12Z")

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Ok, im gonna fab myself up a new downpipe this spring… im going 3", anyways, my alternator is very close to the downpipe, so close that heat on the alternator is always an issue, to counteract that im getting the downpipe jet hot coated and i may throw a thermal blanket on the alternator… my question is, since im coating the downpipe anyways, does stainless offer any advantage over mild steel?

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**Author:** ![The\_Russian](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/the_russian/32/7414_2.png) [@The\_Russian](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/The_Russian)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/2 "2006-02-16T20:25:20Z")

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maybe my misunderstanding, but i dont think you can coat stainless

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**Author:** ![Viper966](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/viper966/32/7268_2.png) [@Viper966](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Viper966)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/3 "2006-02-16T20:28:33Z")

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you can jet hot coat stainless… im 100% on that

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**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/4 "2006-02-16T20:33:22Z")

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a quick Google shows that stainless is apparently just as coat-able as mild steel

not that im surpised, i know that it can be powdercoated, and jet-hot coating isnt a very big jump from there

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**Author:** ![RobY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RobY](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/RobY)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 8:54pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/5 "2006-02-16T20:54:02Z")

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Swain tech it. They are based right out of rochester and thier ceramic coatings are supposed to be better than jet hot.

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**Author:** ![Violator](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/violator/32/7278_2.png) [@Violator](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Violator)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/6 "2006-02-16T22:05:43Z")

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Stainless has better heat rejection properties then mild steel. Im not sure how much of a benefit that would be when coated. I guessing it would still be better but call Swaintech and ask.

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**Author:** ![Carnut](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/carnut/32/7590_2.png) [@Carnut](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Carnut)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/7 "2006-02-16T22:10:28Z")

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304 stainless will take the heat better than mild steel. Overtime the mild can fatigue, coated or not, stainless will last longer. That and the mild can rott from the inside out due to condensation.

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**Author:** ![HotRodKid](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/hotrodkid/32/7609_2.png) [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)\
**Post date:** [February 16, 2006, 10:18pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/downpipe-materials-stainless-vs-mild-steel/8266/8 "2006-02-16T22:18:57Z")

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> [@Carnut](#):
>
> That and the mild can rott from the inside out due to condensation.

and when you have both heat AND condensation on mild steel, that pipe goes to shit REAL fast

if your going to fab it yourself, mild steel is easier to work with but considering your going to have it coated and such($$$) , it wouldnt be that much more expensive to have one fabbed at hybrid

no use spending the money to have it coated, just have it rust out on ya