Spray Arc stainless

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Is it possible to spray arc stainless steel?   Im not new to stainless steel by any means but i have never tried to spray arc the stuff.I have 42  4'x8'x4' tanks to build out of 1/8" 316L, Is it possible to Spray Arc 0.035 Stainless wire?I have 6 different power sources and feeders with over 400 Amps of CV at my disposal so no problem there. Can i use the standard Tri-mix gas to spray?IF not then i guess the old Ideal arc is going to get a hell of a work out.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Sure you can spray stainless.The 'usual' gas for that would be 98-2 argon-O2.The tri-mix is for short-circuit transfer.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:thats should make things go ALOT Faster.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:What about warpage?Tim Beeker.
Reply:1/8" is a little thin to be spraying, unless you're talking about pulsed spray?MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:No im going to spray FAST hopefully.   It beats the hell out of having to tig weld all those tanks.I have spray arc welded some 1/8" Mild steel tanks before and the results were acceptable.   The only thing I have to pulse mig anything is that MK inverter.   And to hell if I have the patience to fiddle with that damn thing.Distortion is not a concern for us.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Do you wanna try one of my pulsers?MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Do you think it will add anything to the process? or the end results?  if its just marginal gains I wont worry about it but if its a huge difference then im definitely open to doing a hostage exchange.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:LOL Hostage exchange...  I like that.  They helped with the thin aluminum in the manufacturing we did with them to control burn through and increase production speed.   I welded the frames without the pulse too and it was more challenging without it.  We didn't weld any other metals with them so I don't know what your results might be with the stainless job you're doing, I've never pulsed stainless.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Ugh I looked through my records today and it looks like I was WAY WAY WAY OFF!  The carbon steel tanks that I spray arced were 1/4" not 1/8"I'm thinking with the 1/8" material I might want to try pulse transfer with 0.030 stainless wire.   And it looks like the only attractive machine with that capabilities is the Invertec 350/450-PRO.I really like the miller inverters over the Lincoln but The XMT-350mpa doesn't have a setting for the smaller wire.  It also seems like I need to go with a brand new feeder with any of the pulse processes to get the best benefit from the pulse process.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:You should be able to use any feeder with the XMT 350 MPa (or any XMT CV with an Optima pulser).   If you go with an Invision 350 MPa and hook up an S74 MPa feeder, it will be synergic, like the 350P.  Or, you could just get a 350P and spend a heck of alot less money than buying either the XMT or Invision and a new feeder.  The 350P has stainless pulse program for .035.  I don't think any of the Millers have pulse program for .030 wire in any metal type, except possibly the Optima.  I don't know what all programs are available for that one.  I heard other programs can be loaded onto it, but not totaly sure about that and not sure what programs may be available either.  There is so little info available about the Optima and so few people who actually have one who can say anything about it.  None of the dealers around here know squat about it or have even seen one in person, from what I gather from asking about it.  Since you already have an XMT, an Optima with your Cobramatic would be the least costly way to have advanced programmable pulse mig.  These MK Pulse+ pulsers are very basic, only 2 controls, but they do the job.You'll have to ask David R about the Invertec 350...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Make sure to watch your heat with s.s. you need to watch out for carbide precipitation (sugar). That's that dark crystally looking stuff on the backside of your weld. As far as spray goes, you could also use a gas shielded flux-core.
Reply:I'm aware of the sugaring but for the most part its always been N.B.D. on plating tanks.   Before my time back in YE oldern day, 80% of the our shop work was to the metal platers.  I remember being about 10 years old and spot welding up plating baskets hundreds at a time.   But I never remember an order this large for tanks.   Usually their just again stainless and we just TIG them up and were done with them as theirs usually only 2 or 3 tanks.  but this order is much larger so im looking to speed up welding time.    The biggest stainless tank I remember was a 3/8" thick 10'x20'x8' that we ended up burning rod on and stick welding up.seeing as these are 1/8" tanks I was hoping that a pulsed mig would make the job faster.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.