I got my first job... sorta

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okay, so i was in the chat room for a while and a couple guys were very helpful (you know who you are). i asked them how to get a few side jobs and they both replied to jsut get my name out there. well, the next night i went bowling with my girl and one of her friends. her friend had some of HER friends show up too. as the night went on, we started to discuss that i can weld and they need some stuff made... long story short, they want me to make a few SS shelves for a bar that theywill be starting up next year.my question is as follows: What do i need in order to set up my welder (LE 100HD) for SS?I know that the current self-shielded Flux-core wire is not the way to go, as this is only mild steel and will not stay rust-free. this is also not food-grade as it will eed to be. they will be shelves for in the kitchen of their bar.i know i will need gas, but what kind? i plan on doing polished SS, most likely 304, but am open to toher suggestions.I know i will need different wire, but what kind? it'll ahve to be compatible with the SS shelves and i want the welds to look good. any specific MFR's or sizes that anyone will reccomend?I plan on running a few practice beads to get the hang of it before i do the job, but are there any things that i shoudl watch out for with the SS? i know it warps really easy, so i plan on using many clamps.any reccomendations on regulators, gases, wires, etc. will be greatly appreciated. i don't expect to start this job for at least another month, so i have some time to pick and choose and do my homework, but i figured the sooner i can get the ball rolling, the better.thanksLater,Andy
Reply:Check your welder's manual.  It should list some recommendations for gas and wire for working on stainless with that machine.And you can check the Lincoln, Miller, Esab, etc web sites for info too.  Go to Lincoln's site and get a PDF of their "GMAW Welding Guide", it's document number is c4200 on the Lincoln site.But generally, for 304 stainless you can use 308 wire and some tri-mix gas.  That will be for short-circuit transfer, which is all you'll be doing with that class machine anyway.  Works just fine.  If you had a BIG machine, you could do spray transfer but that would usually use a different gas (argon + 1-2% O2 usually).
Reply:thanks for the tip MoonRise... i never thought about the manual before... i'm not sure why. i remember seeing it in there before, but i guess i just wasn't thinking. LE actually makes a kit for the MIG conversion (K610-1)... pretty handy piece of info to know.anyway, it seems to be a little fuzzy as to if i need an additional kit. i will probably get it anyway, just so i have it, but i'm wondering if i need it for this job. according to the LE manual, it says that part number "K664-2" is a "Aluminum or Stainless Kit". however, when i search for this part number, it is only defined as an "Aluminum Kit". do i need this kit for Stainless, or is it just Aluminum? like i said before, i'll probably get the extra kit anyway, but i'm not sure if i NEED it or not. maybe i'm just reading the manual wrong? i'll probably call LE after i get the job for sure (it's still up in the air) in order to clarify what it is that i need exactly, but i was wondering if anyone here would know off the top of their head.thanks,Later,Andy
Reply:Looks like the kit is for Aluminum - teflon liner and appropriate tips / roller.I would not think you need that for SS - for Al - i think the sppolgun is the way to go.Usually stainless shelves are bent or rolled to prevent cuts on the edges - this job sounds pretty involved....
Reply:Per the catalog, K664-2 is just has a drive roll, non-metallic cable liner, 6 contact tips for 0.035 aluminum wire, and a 1 lb spool of 4043 MIG wire.  All good and necessary for trying to do aluminum, trying being the main word there.  Not needed for doing stainless.re: Lincoln literature, also look up their PDF document c64000, which is a stainless steel welding guide.  Some of the same info as in the c4200 GMAW guide, but only 40 pages and focused just on welding stainless steels via most methods and not just GMAW.  As opposed to 96 pages and covering most GMAW.
Reply:As stated, sounds pretty involved, though you can get it done.  Get prices on custom ss shelving, your price should not be far from that.  Get a down payment.  Find out at what point they will you the final payment.  Don't do it for zero profit.This is not off topic, because you said, "... etc".Good luck.
Reply:I agree with Tapwelder 100%.I used to do a lot of kitchen stuff with an SP100.  I used 316LSI because I was told it will weld all stainless.  Pure Argon. Most of the time I didn't know what I was welding.  Just "A sink" or counter top.  I had to backpurge the stuff I did.  Food grade.  A flap disk is great on stainless.Most of all, congrats on your first Job.  Pics of the job if you can would be great.DavidJust get the heat right before you touch the "goods".Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderAs stated, sounds pretty involved, though you can get it done.  Get prices on custom ss shelving, your price should not be far from that.  Get a down payment.  Find out at what point they will you the final payment.  Don't do it for zero profit.This is not off topic, because you said, "... etc".Good luck.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RI agree with Tapwelder 100%.I used to do a lot of kitchen stuff with an SP100.  I used 316LSI because I was told it will weld all stainless.  Pure Argon. Most of the time I didn't know what I was welding.  Just "A sink" or counter top.  I had to backpurge the stuff I did.  Food grade.  A flap disk is great on stainless.Most of all, congrats on your first Job.  Pics of the job if you can would be great.DavidJust get the heat right before you touch the "goods".
Reply:I wouldnt get polished stainless, its going to get all scratched and look like crap.  I would get the brushed finish (its a grade or 2 below polished but still has a vinyl covering)Unless of course they requested it.  Also make sure that they know what kind of prices your going to be charging.  Most times friends of friends dont really expect to pay much.Have we all gone mad?