Want to Mig 3/32" Stainless to Stainless?

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Hello! everyone      I need to weld a a sheet of 3/32" Stainless Steel 21" wide X 44.5" Long which when rolled should give me a cylinder of 18" in circumference and 21"long I think?, Iwas told to multiply the lenght by 3.14 for circumference?    I need to weld the 2 - 21" ends together!I've only welded SS once and that was 2 - 8"x8" 5/16" plates to make a Trailer hitch for my 1923 T-Bucket and I used my Lincoln Stick for that job. I do have 28yrs experience using OA and my Cracker BoxI've never done any Mig welding and as I said before nothing much at all on SS and just wanted any advice on which wire (0.30-308?),Gas Mix(75/25?) & maybe suggestions on Amps/wire speed settings to start ?  I have a 1991 MM200 given to me by my Father in Law 8yrs ago but dew to Braking my Neck on the Job I've never been able to use it but would like to start as I'm doing much better these days.  I will also soon be getting a new HH187 to play with !!  Any responce Appreciated !!! Mike E.     "Tell Me,I'll Forget" "Show Me,I'll Remember" "Involve Me,I'll Understand"
Reply:You need stainless wire which isn't very cheap and I think 100% argon (I think the tri-mix is for aluminum  (co2, argon, helium) but maybe Im backwards)
Reply:It will be expensive by the time you buy the wire and bottle gas just for this one project.   You could take it to a welding shop and have it tig'd for less than setting up your mig for stainless.   It would be cheaper to stick weld it than mig, but the minimum purchase quantity for small diameter 308 rod is kinda pricey here still.  I don't know if they make 308 rod to run on AC either.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:There are ss flux core wires that may fit the bill, here is one.http://www.fandmmag.com/web/online/W...FLUX-CORED-WIR
Reply:Originally Posted by 874crawlerYou need stainless wire which isn't very cheap and I think 100% argon (I think the tri-mix is for aluminum  (co2, argon, helium) but maybe Im backwards)
Reply:Hi Tenacrewoods,Just clarifying on your cylinder size...Are you after a cylinder with a finished size of 21" long and a diameter of 18"?It the size critical or does it just have to be close? For critical sizing the cut size of the sheet must be worked out based on the mean diameter.As for the gas, Aluminium uses straight Argon. Stainless uses tri-mix.For wire, 308 should be fine.Cheers, Ryan Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
Reply:In regard to your cylinder size, Circumference = pi*Diam.Your sheet is 21"x44.5". So your circumference is either going to be 21 or 44.5 depending on which way you roll it.If you're rolling it lenthwise so the 44.5" sides touch, 44.5/3.14 = diameter = ~14.17" x 21" long.If you roll the sheet the other way so the 21" sides touch, 21/3.14 = ~6.68" diam x 44.5" long.As Ryan asked you, what size cylinder/tube are you after?"hope for the best, prepare for the worst"Some of my equipment:Miller Millermatic 140Miller Syncrowave 200Lincoln PowerMIG 215
Reply:If the cylinder size is super critical, don’t overlook the thickness of the stock, it will effect the inside or outside diameter depending on the applaication.
Reply:I'd imagine rolling the sheet stretches the material a certain amount too and changes the circumference/diamOne more thing Tenacre, I believe stainless is supposed to be back purged, to prevent the back side of the weld from becoming weak. Not sure if this applies to MIG welding but something to keep in mind."hope for the best, prepare for the worst"Some of my equipment:Miller Millermatic 140Miller Syncrowave 200Lincoln PowerMIG 215
Reply:Ok guys first off he never mentions the SS base material grade. So how do we even know if 308 is the correct filler? I agree that setting up a mig to weld SS for 1 project is not worth the cost if you have a stick welder. 3/32" SS should be able to be stick welded with the correct electrode size. I would stick weld it if i was you. --Gol'
Reply:Sorry It took so Long to get Back!   I want to end up with a Cylinder 18" in Cercumference by 21" long!  The 3/32" SS sheet I have is 59" long by 26" wide and I'll need to cut it to 21" in wide but still confused about the length I need to get an 18" Cylinder? Cylinder does not have to be exact just within a .025 are so! It's going to be for the outer shell of a Propane Forge I want to Build!!  I do have my OA and about 10ft of 72% silver solder will that work on the SS?  Go1lum:   I'm not sure of base Material, it was buried in ground when I moved here over 10yrs ago, I pulled it up with the tractor. It has no rust/tarnish like bad spots anywhere on it and it's straight as a board and looks like it could have been a Counter Top at one time as it has about a 5"  backsplash along the length and is still as shinny as if it were New?     Thanks for all the replies!Last edited by tenacrewoods; 11-14-2009 at 03:19 AM.Mike E.     "Tell Me,I'll Forget" "Show Me,I'll Remember" "Involve Me,I'll Understand"
Reply:According to the forumula listed above, 18" diameter x pi (3.1416) = circumference, so 18 x 3.1416 = 56.5488", or just a wee bit over 56-1/2".I mentioned 308 filler because I assumed the material was 304.  Most plate/sheet used for something like this and easily available at the metal yard is 304.  308 filler is compatible with 304 base metal.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Thanks! DesertRider33  I appreciate the calculations,My sheets long enough for that to work out!   Do you think I can use my AO and the 72% silver solder to tack the SS together?  May I could I just use my Arc welder and some 3/32" SS rods?  I don't have a problem buying the 75/25 gas mix since I have a bottle(B.I.Ls)  already but I'll have to buy a small roll of 308 too.  Even though I plan on using my MM200 or the HH187 that I'll be getting next month since I'm feeling well enough to learn how to Mig Weld now, I don't know if I'll be doing any more SS projects anytime in the near future.  Thanks for the Help!!  Last edited by tenacrewoods; 11-14-2009 at 05:03 AM.Reason: Left something outMike E.     "Tell Me,I'll Forget" "Show Me,I'll Remember" "Involve Me,I'll Understand"
Reply:Tenacrewoods,IMO you would probably be best off getting some stainless rods and zap it up.If you haven't done any stainless stick welding, it may be quite interesting to you. I find the stainless rods weld nicely and product a good looking weld. It would probably be wise to back your weld with something (ideally a strip of copper) to help prevent too much oxidisation on the back-side.You could silver solder it, but you would have to get your hands on the right flux if you don't already have it (Also depends on how hot the outer shell of your forge will get. I don't know anything about forges).Also, if you cut your sheet to 21" by 56.25" (worked out on the mean diameter) then roll it, the outside diameter of your cylinder will be smack on 18". When rolling a cylinder, the material thickness plays a big part in determining your final sizing.Take photo's and keep us posted. Hope it works out for you.Cheers, Ryan Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
Reply:Hello! Ryan5872   I have  done a little bit of SS stick before on 5/16" plate but never anything this thin! I found welding the 5/16" Plate was pretty easy and came out holding up real well on the trailer hitch bracket I built for my 1923 T-Bucket Roadster!  I have 5-6 - 3/16" or 1/4" SS rods(can't remember) for my arc welder but I think their a bit to big for this thin of sheet and their probable 14-15yrs old or so but they have been kept in their enclosed can and in a old broken small refrigerator where I keep all my rods!! The outside of the forge won't get very hot, I can hold my hand on the others I've built!!  If you use a 1" ofCasting refractory & then 3" of insulated Blanket and Coat it with a refractory mix like ITC 100 or equivilent then the Stainless won't hardly get warm, maybe less then 75 - 100degrees or so!  Thanks:  Last edited by tenacrewoods; 11-14-2009 at 08:31 PM.Reason: Left out part of RelpyMike E.     "Tell Me,I'll Forget" "Show Me,I'll Remember" "Involve Me,I'll Understand"
Reply:Thanks for the info on the forges external temperatures.As I said, I know nothing about them, so it's good information to learn.Also good to hear about your rod storage. One of my pet peeves is improperly stored rods Anyway, good luck with the project. Hope it goes well for you.Cheers, RyanOnly two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
Reply:See what the smallest amount of 1/16" stainless electrodes is. 1/16" SS electrodes should be able to to weld 3/32" pretty easily. Just keep your heat down. Probably 40-50 amps with that small of an electrode. --Gol'
Reply:Hello! Go1lum I figured the 1/16" SS rods would be best just wanted confirmation I guess!! I found some for a pretty good price on Fleabay,those small rods are hard to find sometimes!  Hey! Ryan5872     Here's 2 of the best sites on forge building and there's many more out there. just do a search for propane gas forge or Atmospheric Gas Forge!   http://www.zoellerforge.com/http://ronreil.abana.org/design1.shtml#Mongo  All thing sold /DIY forge building http://heattreating.elliscustomknifeworks.com/ This one is my favorite forge page & the page I used to make my first forge!  http://fredlyfx.com/new%20propane.htm    Thanks Go1 & Ryan  Mike E.     "Tell Me,I'll Forget" "Show Me,I'll Remember" "Involve Me,I'll Understand"
Reply:No worries, Mate Thanks for the sites Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former. - Albert Einstein
Reply:While I agree 1/16 308 electrodes would be the best rod to use, I don't know that your AC buzz box will be able to dial down low enough to use that small an electrode.  The smallest size I can effectively use with my Bobcat is 3/32 cause the Bobcat's minimum output is about 50 amps.  I would guess your buzz box to have similar minimum output.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Looks like min output on a Lincoln AC buzz box (if thats what you have) is 40amps. I would say go for it with 1/16" electrodes. --Gol'