Outdoor stove project

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I would like to fabricate a custom outdoor stove. Need to make a choice between mild steel or stainless and which gauge (leaning toward 304 stainless 16ga right now). The welding will be TIG on a Invertig 221. As it will be 4 feet high I am not sure how I would economically argon back purge, could I just use a copper strip (most welds will be butt) - or should I really worry about sugar at all?Is it worth the extra effort to build the stove in stainless, or will it look really odd once its used a few times (I've always managed to cherry hot other outdoor stoves I've had in the past)?Is 16ga a good compromise between workability (I will be rolling cone shapes) and durability?Ted
Reply:Whether I pick steel or SS, it will get hot enough to burn off powder coat (it stinks when it does burn off).To Moderator, I apologize if this should be in the "projects" thread, but if I do pick SS do I need to really worry about sugar for butt welds on a stove?
Reply:Solar Flux B to prevent sugaring your stainless. This is a great project to get used to using it.Lincoln Precision Tig 185Lincoln Power Mig 256Hypertherm PM 45Everlast 140STSmith O/A
Reply:We repair several outdoor wood stoves every fall & the problems are always due to lack of maintenance, no rain cap on chimney & build up of wet ashes, don't notice any difference in the life of the stoves, stainless or mild steel when properly maintained
Reply:We use 304 on for the coal chutes on our fluid bed boilers.  About 1/2" material heated to around 1500Deg.Dan
Reply:Not hard to purge. Get a foot or less of thin wall tubing cut it in half so you have a U. Now you have a dam that will close off the backside of a flat weld section, fill it with argon and just have someone step it along as you weld, or clamp it in place. For shielding the exterior of a 90 degree corner weld cut 90 degrees out of the length of pipe, then the remaining 270 degrees sits over the corner perfectly.. sal off the ends with pacman lookin endplates too.Welding/Fab Pics: www.UtahWeld.com
Reply:Stainless will warp a lot worse than mild steel. And once you get it good and hot, it'll rust (especially 304).
Reply:Thank you Gentlemen, this is the real world info I need.
Reply:b432291 Other then stating,  "I would like to fabricate a custom outdoor stove".You have offered no: definition, design, or material specifications, for an 'outdoor stove'.True to the WW Forum: your lack of data hasn't deterred a plethora of recommendationsthat don't apply anywhere."Plan, no plan", PIG KILLER, Beyond Thunderdome.Please start over  -  tell us what you need help with  -  and you will get answers.Photo examples expedite clarity.Opus