Stainless Rods for 304 Near Fresh Water?

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I'm making a transom mount for a trolling motor for a kayak. All 304 stainless. 1/4" plate bolted to the hull and the rest is 1/8". I welded it out with Hobart 312 rods because it's what I had.I only have 1 rod left, so i need to go buy more stainless rods. What should I get? These are very low stress joints. Originally, I was going to make it out of 6061 and use join all of it with solid rivets.I just need something that I can weld 304 with that won't corrode too bad in fresh water.Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
Reply:Stainless 304 does great job in fresh water 💧 .If salt water you need to look up the correct stainless. Dave

Originally Posted by 52 Ford

I'm making a transom mount for a trolling motor for a kayak. All 304 stainless. 1/4" plate bolted to the hull and the rest is 1/8". I welded it out with Hobart 312 rods because it's what I had.I only have 1 rod left, so i need to go buy more stainless rods. What should I get? These are very low stress joints. Originally, I was going to make it out of 6061 and use join all of it with solid rivets.I just need something that I can weld 304 with that won't corrode too bad in fresh water.Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
Reply:308 rods are standard for welding 304 SS.-DaveXMT304 with: 22A Feeder, or HF251 Hi Freq DC TIG air cooled
Reply:

Originally Posted by 52 Ford

I'm making a transom mount for a trolling motor for a kayak. All 304 stainless. 1/4" plate bolted to the hull and the rest is 1/8". I welded it out with Hobart 312 rods because it's what I had.I only have 1 rod left, so i need to go buy more stainless rods. What should I get? These are very low stress joints. Originally, I was going to make it out of 6061 and use join all of it with solid rivets.I just need something that I can weld 304 with that won't corrode too bad in fresh water.Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk
Reply:Gotcha. 308 is WAY cheaper than the 312's that I was burning! They were in one of those 1lb packs. I only bought them because I only needed a like half a rod when I bought them. Something like $5 PER ROD!!!Any preferred brand?
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Originally Posted by Oldiron2

I don't think your fresh water conditions will promote significant corrosion, even if using plain 308 filler, but if worried, you can get E308L-16 rods, or go with a stabilized type like 321 or 347. Not sure what the difference in cost is. I inherited a small pack of 347 and used a few rods from it a few weeks ago while welding some rods on small brackets;  FWIW, the slag seemed harder, tougher, than any I'd previously seen.I just did some searching and found a Lincoln Compatibility chart in.pdf form that you might want to save; also has detailed discussions about stainless steels and welds:https://www.lincolnelectric.com/asse...ure/c64000.pdf
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Originally Posted by 52 Ford

I'm going to epoxy coat most of it. .
Reply:

Originally Posted by Kelvin

Don't forget to paint the epoxy afterwards, or use an epoxy with a UV blocker, or put something into the epoxy (powdered aluminum or graphite or whatever) to block the UV, or it won't last long. (Or use polyester resin, which is almost immune to UV. And if you use polyester, don't forget to put wax into it so the surface doesn't remain tacky forever...)Here in saltwater, we use 316.
Reply:304 is a good choice especially when it's free.  312 is excellent for a lot of different applications including what you did.   If you purchase it in bulk (10lb) for example it is significantly cheaper.       Harris makes good stainless wire. IMHO.
Reply:304 is a good choice for fresh water.Dave

Originally Posted by 52 Ford

I was going to use 316SS, but I got the 304 for free, and since it's fresh water I figure it's good enough. Saved me a couple hundred dollars anyway.Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk