Yeah, it was more of a lark rather than a serious project. But it worked out ok and the material costs were low.

I packed the lathe swarf  "packing material" pretty firmly. It doesn't rattle. If I had wanted to mimic what commercial makers sometimes do, I would have tried to find some fine weave SS mesh (almost like fine steel wool) to wrap directly around the perf tube, and then use the larger ss shavings to fill the rest of the can.

I'm sorry I can't give you tig machine advice. I'm lucky to be able to use a Miller Dynasty 350 (north of $7k) and a water cooled torch. That machine has a lot of variables/settings, makes some things a lot easier. 

cheers

alistair

On 2013-02-05, at 10:47 AM, Zeitgeist wrote:

> I must admit that I've also always wanted to build my own exhaust
> system--just 'cause it looks like fun.  I'll no doubt get the opportunity
> when I finally embark on my mTDI swap.
> 
> Does the packing material rattle at all?
> 
> What kind of TIG setup did you use?  I'm currently investigating the
> purchase of a small portable unit and would love some real world feedback
> on any of the affordable name brand systems out there.
> 
> 
> On Tue, Feb 5, 2013 at 10:33 AM, Dave Mcneely <mcneely4@cox.net> wrote:
> 
>> ---- Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
>>> I'm glad someone else besides me thinks it cool, I'm just getting
>> eye-rolling looks at home.
>> 
>> Well, there is the fact that you can buy a quite good muffler for not a
>> lot of bucks.  But I greatly admire your gumption.  mcneely
>> 
>>> 
>>> alistair
>> 
>> 
> 
> 
> --
> Casey