Stainless welding with Hobart 140

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I am wanting to weld stainless with my Hobart Handler 140.Mostly sheet, 16 ga or so. Recommendations on wire? I assume I'll need tri mix gas.Occasionally I may want to do some thicker, maybe 1/8". Will this little welder do that ok?My original plan was to get a TIG setup for stainless, but I haven't been able to find what I want in my price range so figured I'd work with what I have.GlenHobart Champion 16Miller XMT 304 CC/CV toastedHobart Hefty CC/CVHobart Handler 140Lotos LTP5000D
Reply:You very well could probably get a TIG setup for the cost of TRI mix gas. Depending on the supplier it's about 10 times the cost of argon for same size fill
Reply:Yes , your machine is capable of welding stainless. There are a couple of mixes, tri-mix, and there is another like an argon/oxygen mix too. I've had good luck with the Tri'mix doing 308 wire on 304 stainless. Its a different animal than mild steel or aluminum. Need to dial it in to keep the spatter down, and can't weld too far without warping. It probably won't be as pretty as a tig weld, so have some extra to practice on. Most of the time when I'm done migging stainless, I use sanding pads, and scotchbrite pads to clean it up to remove spatter, and discoloration.good luck';Airco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60D
Reply:Thanks for the responses.A quick craigslist search shows up a Invertec V250-s near me for $600. Comes with a pedal and torch. I have no experience with TIG. What gas would I need for that?GlenHobart Champion 16Miller XMT 304 CC/CV toastedHobart Hefty CC/CVHobart Handler 140Lotos LTP5000D
Reply:Straight argon.
Reply:Thanks, any other thoughts on the Invertec?GlenHobart Champion 16Miller XMT 304 CC/CV toastedHobart Hefty CC/CVHobart Handler 140Lotos LTP5000D
Reply:I've had an Invertec V250-s for at least 10 years, maybe more, and has been a great machine.  Granted, I haven't used it in at least 2 years, but its been solid.  They are nice machines, very smooth arc with 7018, and reasonably useful as a DC TIG on steel.  Just be aware, there are some limitations in TIG mode.  Its a lift start, and there is no shield gas shut off solenoid....you have to manually turn the shield gas on/off before and after welding. You'll definitely waste a decent amount of gas this way, but I *think* you can buy aftermarket solenoids.  $600 is a decent deal with the torch and foot pedal, but $500 would be even better....just be aware parts are almost unobtainable, and when you can find them, EXPENSIVE!  I think they were marketed towards pipeliners, running a TIG root with 7018 cap...someone can correct me if I'm wrong.
Reply:Thanks for the input. I've been looking for an Invertec V350 but haven't found any used ones. This 250 is tempting because it's so cheap.Back to the original topic of this thread, will my Hobart Handler 140 do ok with thin sheet stainless? Or will I have blow through? I've welded a fair about of regular steel sheet with it but wondering how the stainless work in comparison.GlenHobart Champion 16Miller XMT 304 CC/CV toastedHobart Hefty CC/CVHobart Handler 140Lotos LTP5000D
Reply:If you can weld 16 ga. mild steel , with little more practice and patience you can weld 16 ga. stainless. What types of stainless are you welding, and what are you making with it. If you are making sheet metal guards. custom covers, adding gussets to a frame, or puttting in a low pressure irrigation, or blower pipe, MIG would be suitable. If you're doing railings, exhaust headers, commercial kitchen counters/equipment, TIG would be better. You can use either .024" or .030 wire for as thin as 18ga. they don't have  listings for 20, or 24 ga. The 140 would easily be good for 11ga to 3/16" stainless with tri-mix gas (my last bottle of 80cf was about $85 before rental fees). Stainless wires are pretty easy to find in 2lb spools (308,316) and rarely have any feed problems. I have often found with stainless that it is easier to use a thicker( a few dollars more ) tube , pipe , plate, bar, than to fight with thinner cheaper materials. The machine is capable, and by the looks of stuff you posted, I think you will be able to do it. Youre just gonna need a bottle, a spool, and some practice stainless, and maybe some aluminum plate/angle.HTH


Last edited by albrightree; 10 Hours Ago at 12:03 PM.Airco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60D
Reply:Thanks for the detailed response!To start I'll be doing some basic things, like a pan for my cider press. Then probably rocker panels on my car. I think it will all be 304 SS. Nothing needing to hold pressure.I'll post some results once I've gotten things setup and run a few tests.P.s. what would the aluminum be for?GlenHobart Champion 16Miller XMT 304 CC/CV toastedHobart Hefty CC/CVHobart Handler 140Lotos LTP5000D
Reply:

Originally Posted by Jason280

I've had an Invertec V250-s for at least 10 years, maybe more, and has been a great machine.  Granted, I haven't used it in at least 2 years, but its been solid.  They are nice machines, very smooth arc with 7018, and reasonably useful as a DC TIG on steel.  Just be aware, there are some limitations in TIG mode.  Its a lift start, and there is no shield gas shut off solenoid....you have to manually turn the shield gas on/off before and after welding. You'll definitely waste a decent amount of gas this way, but I *think* you can buy aftermarket solenoids.  $600 is a decent deal with the torch and foot pedal, but $500 would be even better....just be aware parts are almost unobtainable, and when you can find them, EXPENSIVE!  I think they were marketed towards pipeliners, running a TIG root with 7018 cap...someone can correct me if I'm wrong.