two stainless questions (ok, maybe more than two)

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I picked up some broken steel targets from the range last week and would like to play around with fixing them.two pieces (one target) i'm 100% sure is stainless, though i don't know what grade.  The guy who made them originally was there and confirmed that they were stainless (drops from his previous job) but did not know what kind.  These are non-magnetic.the other target he thought the one piece was stainless, but he didn't know about the other piece since it wasn't one that he made.  These two pieces are both magnetic and i suspect are just carbon steel, but don't know for sureis their a field test to confirm whether a piece is stainless?  grind/spark test or something?If the magnetic pieces are stainless, is there a rod i can use on both of these?what happens if i just use regular rod on the stainless pieces?what happens if i use stainless rod on regular steel? (if the two magnetic pieces turn out to not be stainless).these were free and i'm just wanting to play with them for fun.process will be arc welding with my old Linde AC buzz-box.thanks in advance for any help!mike
Reply:SuperMissleWeld, or the generic ER312 stainless steel filler. Rule of thumb is you can use it on any steel to steel, steel to stainless steel, and stainless to stainless of unknown chemistry.Of course it flows like butter, and is particularly good for tool steels.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:carbon or stainless, either will work just fine for targets. Carbon wire on stainless might rust some, but I don't think the bullets will mind.
Reply:Is that to say the only downside to welding stainless with regular rod is that it will rust?Can I use my standby 7014 then?  Run it at the top of the amperage range?
Reply:yes!!
Reply:Weld the non magnetic (300 series ) stainless with type 308 or 308L electrode.The non magnetic stainless would be 400 series. Like a disk brake rotor on a motorcycle.Always choose the correct  electrode.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonSuperMissleWeld, or the generic ER312 stainless steel filler. Rule of thumb is you can use it on any steel to steel, steel to stainless steel, and stainless to stainless of unknown chemistry.Of course it flows like butter, and is particularly good for tool steels.