That’s understandable! A welding set can be costly, with used sets costing around *$1,000**. Luckily, there are three ways to connect exhaust pipes where welding is not needed, and they are all much more affordable:
The band sleeve clamp is best used on a straight pipe since it relies on pressure for the connection. Place the sleeve around the pipe and tighten until the exhaust pipe is connected.
If your exhaust pipe connection needs to bend, the flexible braided pipe is what you want. The braided pipe connection is clamped in place with U-bolts. If one pipe can flare and fit over another, all you will need is a U-bolt for the connection.