Welding Stainless to Mild?

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My project for this weekend was supposed to be building a cart for a new welder. But then the snow came. Anyway, I had some old Angle iron bedrails I was going to use for the entire thing, but then realised there is a stainless steel  rectangle in the shed. It looks like it would fit as a base.  Then I could weld the handles and feet with the angle iron. The design is going to be sorta like a dolly. If I could get the bottom done with this extra steel, it means more for the rest of the project.My question is, is it possible to weld mild to stainless reliably with regular rods? My dad says it requires a special rod or the welds will crack. I'm looking for another opinion.  Thanks!-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:Your dad is right. 309L is a favored rod for steel to stainless.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:I forgot to mention all I have is SMAW machines. Oops! That's a TIG rod, isn't it?-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:you can get 309 rods for either stick or tig.
Reply:The part of this project that may give you a problem is the bed rails...........not good quality steel!Bgbkwndo
Reply:I've tried using scrap bedrails before also.  They are high carbon crap and the welds crack easily - I don't recommend using them unless you bolt/rivet them.- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!"   HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:Originally Posted by BgbkwndoThe part of this project that may give you a problem is the bed rails...........not good quality steel!Bgbkwndo
Reply:So far I've never had any problems with bedrails. For light duty applications they seem fine.-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:I have found that bed rails give me little trouble.  I prefer 7018 for welding them.Have used self shielded flux-core but then take the torch and heat the weld red hot after and have no cracking.Not sure about how stainless welding on them will react but someone else on here shouldGordie -- "I believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant."
Reply:What if you're MIG welding stainless to mild steel?  Can you use E70s-6?  Would those welds crack? Or would you have to use a stainless (or other) filler?
Reply:I don't know what kind of bed rails you've come across, but all the ones I have have been regular old mild steel in the 1 1/4 x 1 1/4 angle format. Maybe 1 1/2. Inside the mattress? Definitely spring steel, but in wire form....
Reply:Use 309L or 312, both are available as stick electrodes, not cheap, though.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:most bed fraim rails are spring steel . try to cut one if it is hard to cut it is spring steel if it cuts real easy it is mild steel . spring steel has a lot of carbon in it making it very hard.
Reply:for what you are using the stainless and bed rails for Alex, just use 7018.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:I don't have any 7018 at the moment, but would 7014 or 7024 work?-AlexSears/Craftsman 230A Buzzy BoxSears/Craftsman 180A Buzzy BoxChicago Electric 80A InverterALL STICK...ALL THE TIME!I spent a lot of time with the square peg and round hole.
Reply:Any idea what stainless it is?IW Local 580 NY, NY
Reply:Originally Posted by SJCWhat if you're MIG welding stainless to mild steel?  Can you use E70s-6?  Would those welds crack? Or would you have to use a stainless (or other) filler?
Reply:guys, how about welding 304 to 316 SS?  is 309L still the preferred tig filler rod?
Reply:Originally Posted by Oscarguys, how about welding 304 to 316 SS?  is 309L still the preferred tig filler rod?
Reply:cool.  I got plenty of 308L, 309L, and 316L.  Just needed to make sure what to use.
Reply:All the mfrs. literature I have seen recommends 309L as the best filler for welding 304 to 316. 316L should be fine for non-critical applications, though.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:smart aleck comment deletedLast edited by TimmyTIG; 11-15-2012 at 09:50 PM.
Reply:Read most of the replies but decided to reply with my own experience........I weld plane steel to stainless all the time.......other than you losing the anti -rust  feature it welds just the same.......I usually use 308L since I have a bunch around, but a wire feed with 70s6 will work.......No problem........  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock