Stainless flange welding question

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I have a couple of special stainless flanges that I'm making a lamp out of. The I.D. of the flanges are not standard pipe sizes so I machined a bushing out of some 0.50" wall SST tubing. The bushing bottoms out on a stop in the base of the flanges leaving about 5/16" to the face. I have some stick rods but would like to try TIG on this part as it will be visible. What are some techniques for TIG welding the equivalent of a slip on flange (inside & outside)? For one of the other parts how much spatter do SST stick rods produce? I know at work the welder pickles the SST welds to prevent rusting. If my lamp will be inside are the welds still going to rust?Thanks,   ChrisTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:If your going to tig it your gonna want to use a gas lens with a min 8 cup to produce good shielding with a flow of about 17cfh that with the right travel speed should produce nice rainbow colored welds. It does fo me at least Miller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:Post a couple of pics so we can get a better look..If your fit-up is VERY GOOD you should NOT need any filler and it will look great!STAY AWAY from the stick.Mess will follow and much clean up will be needed after and then nothing will match anymore because of all the grinding/sanding needed..Tig it and be done with it....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Tig it.. do some sample welds first unless you have a foot pedal...Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:This was my first time doing TIG on stainless.The machine was at 120 amps and the torch was getting pretty warm. I guess it might be time to start saving for a Dynasty 200 water cooled package. The filler was 3/32" 309. I know it looks like crap so any comments are welcome. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Here is an example of the lamp base. I will post it in the projects section when it is all polished up. I found the flanges at a local industrial surplus yard and with the all thread it kind of looks like a hydraulic cylinder. Attached ImagesTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.This was my first time doing TIG on stainless.The machine was at 120 amps and the torch was getting pretty warm. I guess it might be time to start saving for a Dynasty 200 water cooled package. The filler was 3/32" 309. I know it looks like crap so any comments are welcome.
Reply:ShortbusWelder, I sanded the tube and the baseplate but did not wipe them with mineral spirits or acetone. Is that the cause of the blue welds? By washing up on the sides you mean I should rock the torch more? As far as amperage, what should I have been at? I turned the heat up because it did not look like the puddle was big enough.chevydyl, a gas lens setup is going to be my next purchase. How would one of those huge pyrex cups with the diffuser screen worked for this application or is it just a waste of argon?TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I welded few hungred of similar stuff (for some kind of a stainless steel fence). I used cheap chinese welder (we have it as a reserve unit) with wp17 torch, #4 cup. I used 100-110 amps with no filler rod and no pre-cleaning. Gold colored welds with no problem. You need right travel speed and realy close arc.Last edited by ravselj; 06-11-2013 at 03:36 PM.
Reply:The picture that shows the close up of the weld, the top is blended in nice, but I think your moving to slow, and you need more gas coverage. When the welds look gray and ashy, your heat is to high, as well as, slow travel speed. IF you're going to weld hot, you better move it..  For the blending on the sides, you did it well in the pic I referenced in the above statement, but need to do that throughout the whole flange, not just the 11-2 section of it..As for the puddle not being big enough on lower amps, practice a bit, then try a flange again..
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.This was my first time doing TIG on stainless.The machine was at 120 amps and the torch was getting pretty warm. I guess it might be time to start saving for a Dynasty 200 water cooled package. The filler was 3/32" 309. I know it looks like crap so any comments are welcome.
Reply:Thanks for the advice, I will have to see if they have any more flanges or fittings to practice on. I know there is a box of sch.80 socket weld steam fittings, might be able to make something creative out of them.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE