Can you tell if filler rod was used? (Photos)

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Hi guys!I need some help trying to figure out how this 316 stainless steel manifold was welded together (see photos). I can tell that it was TIG welded, but I'm wondering specifically if filler rod was used or not?To me it looks like the longitudinal butt weld was fused together without any filler rod, but the connection around the perimeter of the tubing and the bracing does have filler. I'm hoping someone with more TIG experience can tell right away.Also, can you guys tell if any post weld finishing/cleaning was done? The welds look quite clean, and there is very little heat tint that I can see, but it doesn't seem to me like they took a grinding wheel to it or anything like that...Any help you guys can offer is much appreciated!ThanksNS Attached Images
Reply:If I was to guess, I'd say that the longitudinal and the tube to header were done with mig. On the longitudinal it looks like a whip maneuver similar to a 6010 pass and then heavily wire wheeled.  On the tubing, the combination of some bulkier spots and some longish bead design just don't strike me as tig.  Admittedly, I have been wrong before.Last edited by OldSparks; 03-23-2016 at 07:11 PM.
Reply:It looks like it could be tig but not by a great tig welder. Also since the welds have no color they were wire brushed. Imo once someone gets how to tig weld pretty good the finished product looks better not brushed.Last edited by Showdog75; 03-23-2016 at 07:44 PM.
Reply:Yeah it looks like filler was used. Just too bunchy so to speak.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.
Reply:Likely filler was used as porosity can sometimes be a problem without filler (at least on steel so I assume SS would be similar). The wire contains deoxidizers to help clean the weld. Does look more like MIG though.
Reply:So the million dollar question......why does it matter? Are you reverse engineering these and looking to manufacture them?-DoogieMiller 350PMiller Trailblazer 325 EFI w/ Excel PowerLincoln LN25 suitcase welderXMT 304/22a feederMiller Syncrowave 350LXMiller EconotigHobart Handler 140(2) Uni-Hydro 42-14Hypertherm 65 plasmaWEBB Gap bed lathe
Reply:That was all TIG welded (just not very pretty) WITH filler wire then wire brushed when it was cold because it probably looked like @$$. Dave, porosity would be completely independent whether filler was added or not. If they bushed it while it was still hot with a clean stainless brush it would have looked a "little" better and shined up nicer without the residual discoloration outside the HAZ.BTW, what is it anyway? Home brew radiant heat manifold?RyanMiller Multimatic 200 tig/spool gun/wireless remoteMillermatic 350P, Bernard/XR Python gunsMiller Dynasty 350, Coolmate 3.5 & wireless remoteCK WF1 TIG wire feederMiller Spectrum 375 XtremeOptrel e684Miller Digital EliteMiller Weld-Mask
Reply:Originally Posted by NelsonSHi guys!I need some help trying to figure out how this 316 stainless steel manifold was welded together (see photos). I can tell that it was TIG welded, but I'm wondering specifically if filler rod was used or not?To me it looks like the longitudinal butt weld was fused together without any filler rod, but the connection around the perimeter of the tubing and the bracing does have filler. I'm hoping someone with more TIG experience can tell right away.Also, can you guys tell if any post weld finishing/cleaning was done? The welds look quite clean, and there is very little heat tint that I can see, but it doesn't seem to me like they took a grinding wheel to it or anything like that...Any help you guys can offer is much appreciated!ThanksNS
Reply:Originally Posted by derekpfeifferSo the million dollar question......why does it matter? Are you reverse engineering these and looking to manufacture them?
Reply:a lot of welders curious on how something was welded..i have often seen big structural steel welds on fans and punp bases and wondered if fluxcore, mig or just big stick rod.sometimes 3/16" 6013, 7014, 7024 rod welds are really hard to tell from mig or fluxcore at times
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveLikely filler was used as porosity can sometimes be a problem without filler (at least on steel so I assume SS would be similar). The wire contains deoxidizers to help clean the weld. Does look more like MIG though.
Reply:I haven't done much TIG but stainless is nicer to work with. I made a drawer for my welding table out of 12 gauge steel and even with really clean and ground edges, still had to use a little filler wire to prevent porosity. Maybe the chromium or something in stainless keeps it from developing porosity?
Reply:Lots of stainless tubing for breweries, pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities, etc are welded with an automatic pulsed TIG process that uses no filler. It's a beautiful finished product.You can weld carbon, stainless, and aluminum with no filler metal, and with proper shielding gas coverage you don't need to worry about porosity or other defects.However, the strength of the weld is inferior to that of the surrounding base metal when done with carbon steel or aluminum. In fact, aluminum can be reduced to 60% of its yield and ultimate tensile strength when welded in this fashion. This phenomenon does not occur when welding stainless steel without filler.
Reply:Originally Posted by Welder DaveI haven't done much TIG but stainless is nicer to work with. I made a drawer for my welding table out of 12 gauge steel and even with really clean and ground edges, still had to use a little filler wire to prevent porosity. Maybe the chromium or something in stainless keeps it from developing porosity?