SMAW Stainless Test

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Guy wants me to qualify with stainless rod. Who does that? Why? What kind of DIG/Arc Force settings would you run on 316 in a horizontal pipe weld?Is it not hexavalent chromium hell with those things? I have maybe run 10lbs in my whole life...Constant Current Weldor.
Reply:What rod will you be using?I have ran a fair bit of 316L smaw rod.Company I work for is buying esab rod right now. The esab rod is very fluid. It takes a great deal of skill to run it out of position.In the past they were buying some certanium stainless rod that was a dream to run out of position with a fast freeze puddle.That would be a good ticket to get. Not many guys out there who carry this ticket.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Ya the esabs make a nice looking weld but when you weld its hard to distinguish a puddle. And wear safety glasses because the freezing slag will leap of the weld occasionally.
Reply:I have ran a bunch of 308-and 309 on plate and tube. We always used 3/32 rods on tube.
Reply:For welding out-of-position, the 3xx-15 rods are considered best. They're kind of 6010-like, not as pretty a bead as the -16 or -17 rods but much easier to keep the metal where it's supposed to be.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:More info:3/32 316SS Socket weld.Constant Current Weldor.
Reply:I tested and had been certified for stainless (structural)  although I don't think you can call it structural  that is what they called it.  It had to pass an xray and destruction test.  We were welding structures in tanks and also implements that would be used to hold men in chemical plants/labs.  There were also a lot of  stainless items legs, bracing and what not for different food industries.  It wasn't structural like big iron, but there was money and lives at stake and if a weld broke then they wanted to know who done it.  Most of my stainless welding was in a shop where they held the certs since they paid for it.  they would come out and choose a couple welders and say weld this test.  we would practice up and take the test.  There would be an observer, an xray truck and then they would ship it off to be destroyed.  in a couple days you would know if you passed and then you would be welding.  Sometimes it would be unobstructed and sometimes it would be obstructed.  at times we would tig, or gmaw or stick; what ever they wanted.As mentioned -15 was fast freeze -16 was like in the middle and -17 was soupy and should only be run flat or horizontal.  These were guidelines as I understand different manufactures have variances.
Reply:Stainless stick is more fluid than carbon- socket welds are no problem though- its just a round fillet like a slip on flange. Just make sure you gap the fit- dont bottom the pipe out in the fitting, that can cause problems some times. Dont try to stack a bunch of metal, keep it moving like you would do a stringer cap.