>I DID make my exhaust braces out of electrical conduit >
2 simple reasons for the conduit:
    1. It is WORKABLE. Stainless is hard to even cut. Fabricating with
conduit is not "trouble" as  you described. Rather, I can cut, bend, and
drill the holes and in 5 min have the brace done. Not so with stainless.
    2. Why overkill? I really don't need braces capable of lasting 25 years
to hold up a new exhaust system that will only live for 5 years. Good
stainless fasteners that will come off in a few years without breaking the
studs, etc is money better spent. As I said before, the braces are
replaceable if one or all fail.

Now, I have nothing against your way Rich if you have the time and means.
Quality, DM, buying the best once, doing a job right are great things. Sure
it's better, but my time and money need to go to other problems for now.
Afterall, it's not like I made my own head gasket out of caulk or something.
I am not the first to try this either. Others have sent me success stories.
Now, if you care to make me some stainless ones......#;-{@>

>While the VW exhaust bracketry is not made of gold, it is most
>likely made of chrome-moly steel.
>
>I have used 316 stainless steel, 1/2 X .065 tubing whenever I have needed
to
>fabricate a replacement exhaust bracket.  The .065 wall seems to make for a
>component that is as stiff as the original and the 316 ss is certainly
tough
>enough.
>
>EMT is cheap and readily available, two attributes which have nothing to do
>with its suitability for this purpose.  If you are going to go to all the
>trouble to fabricate these parts, why not use the best material for the
job.
>It's like having a pair of boots made up and telling the bootmaker to use
>vinyl.
>Rich
>