Hi folks,
I'm planning to build my own exhaust silencers but need to buy some stainless steel wool (or mild steel at a push) to wrap around the silencer perforated inner tube so absorb the worst of the heat. This should prevent it burning the Rockwool wadding and make it last a bit longer. I know I can buy this stuff in small quantities but have never seen stainless wool and never in large rolls (ideally 800mm wide...)

Anyone know where I can get this stuff?

Related question on Rockwool:
Can I just use Rockwool insulation from my local builders merchant or is there anything special about the stuff used in silencers? I'm not bothered if I have to repack the silencers every year as long as it will do for SVA and not catch fire or anything!

Cheers,
Craig.


Cheers,
Craig.

Sorry guys I just found the answer to my own question which I asked a little while ago on this very forum...Doh!

Peteff gave me this supplier's details:
http://www.milnerconv.co.uk/Pipe.htm

They list it at £7.25 per 500 grams. Anyone got any idea how much I'll need to wrap a 2" pipe 800mm long. Area will be approx 0.125 square meters per layer and thus assuming two layers, I will need 0.25 sq'm but I have no idea how many grams there are in a square meter of ss wool... Anyone?

I'd also still appreciate some guidance on the Rockwool.

Cheers,
Craig.

hi craig....
ask at tower tools in dundonald..i've found them pretty good...might even be a handier source for your s/s wool
cheers
colin

I know what you mean by burning off quickly. I repacked my quadbikes can not so long a go and it already has a louder note, Just one thing wire wool burns try a nine volt battery and some common steel wool. Short it out against the wool and you get fire. not tried stainless steel wirewool so test it out before you buy it to see if the stuff burns.

Ps you get a snowstorm of silvery packing floating round after starting the quad up after the repack. Lungs what lungs.

Wire wool only burns under electrical conditions not like paper and is widely used in exhausts. If anyone shoves a 9v battery up your exhaust it will still not come into contact with the wire wool as it is in the perforated tube inside the silencer so I think we are safe on that one. The mechanic at our local bike shop uses rockwool for silencers and hasn't had any bad reports from customers. One layer of steel wool round the perforated tube should be enough then ram the rockwool in to take up the remaining space.

Thanks for the info guys, I still can't decide whether to buy or build my silencers... If I can't make up my mind by the weekend then a toss of a coin will decide it! It's the only way to keep moving forwards I find...

By the way, what is "E-Glass"? I got an email from Milneroffroad.com who suggested E-Glass wrapped around the perf tube with stainless wool in between. Is E-Glass better or worse than Rockwool for this application?

Thanks again,
Craig.

Hi again,
I just came across this on the web:

Seems like clever stuff if it is not too expensive.
Cheers,
Craig.