mild steel to ss with flux core?

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would .030 flux core stick well enough to 304SS? a friend of mine needs a v-band flange welded to his ss turbo downpipe and i thought id ask the pros before i tell him i can do it.. the machine is a hobart handler 140, the flange is 1/8" where it welds to the pipe, and the pipe is 18gauge. i was planning on tacking it in 4 places @90* intervals, then running 1/2" beads on opposite ends to lower the chance of warping the flange.Nate SandersThe brokest and slowest fabricator in the U.S. of A!
Reply:The correct wire to use to weld mild steel to 304 stainless is 309, in any process.   Fluxcore wire does exist in 309 flavor, Hobart makes it, www.hobartbrothers.com.  Not sure if it is available in 8" rolls to fit your small mig or not.  That said, my choice on that job would be to tig it with 309 rather than use wire.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:wicked, thanks for the reply man!Nate SandersThe brokest and slowest fabricator in the U.S. of A!
Reply:YES mild steel mig wire or flux core will weld to 304/304L or any stainless 3xx/3xxL.The weld is only as strong as it's weakest link. I this case it is the mild steel.The flux core weld (if done properly) will last at least as long as the mild steel base metal.With proper volts and wire speed, good fusion between the dissimular metals will occur.The weld will simply deteriorate as fast as the mild steel base metal.
Reply:well i just got scraps of both types of metal that im about to test my "core" wire on.thanks for the replies guys.Nate SandersThe brokest and slowest fabricator in the U.S. of A!
Reply:i would grab up some .030 309 fluxcore. but if your short on cash and your buddy doesnt care and its not a "critical application" you can weld it with mild steel and get away with it.
Reply:The problem when welding carbon steel to stainless steel with mild steel filler is the weld will begin to rust.Use 309 filler for welding carbon steel to stainless steel and the over alloy weld deposit will be rust free.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720