stainless electrode question.

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Hello all.  Simple stick welding question.  E306, E308, E309, E316.  Why is there such a variety?  Are the welding characteristics different with the different grades? And is 316 capableof welding all the lower grades?....I'm just curious, I have some stainless rod on hand and want to use it appropriately. Thanks.Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw
Reply:I have some stainless welding coming up with my day job...quite a bit.  A new precast building...350' x 130' one story.  The print call for e308 on all the stainless connections I saw...but I noticed they've got a bunch of e316 in the trailer...Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw
Reply:If your not familiar with the different grades of stainless steel filler rod, I have to wonder if your the right person to be welding this.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:I have to look in the book to know which is which.   I know I can use 308 or 308L for any of the 304 I weld.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I'm a union ironworker.  I'll be installing the all the rebar, misc iron and erecting the precast.  I'm not the engineer.  I weld with what the contractor gives me.  I was asking more in regard to my personal supply of stainless rod and its various applications.The superintendent that called me to run the job thinks I'm the right guy.Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw
Reply:wow i need more clients with stupid crazy money that will build a tilt up with stainless embedsVantage 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:No the 316 or 316L is not good to use on 308/304 material. Only use 308 on 304 or 308 grades of stainless. It is ok to use 308 on 308L base metal as long as low temp is not a requirement. If it is then the 308L electrode must be used. While all 300 series stainless is P8 grouped not all F6 electrodes will suffice. You really need to match the grade of metal to the electrode. To be correct, that is.A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:Borrowed this from another forum..." For stainless steel filler rod selection, checkout the filler rod selection chart on page 10 of the stainless steel welding manual (published on a stainless steel industry trade group's web site) here: http://www.ssina.com/download_a_file/weldingbook.pdf "Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderMattBorrowed this from another forum..." For stainless steel filler rod selection, checkout the filler rod selection chart on page 10 of the stainless steel welding manual (published on a stainless steel industry trade group's web site) here: http://www.ssina.com/download_a_file/weldingbook.pdf "
Reply:One reason there are different stainless welding fillers/rods/electrodes is because there are many different stainless steel alloys.Plain old mild steel is weldable by many different processes and fillers/electrodes.But as soon as you move 'away' from plain old mild steel, you often have to pay more attention to matching the filler/electrode to the parent material in order to actually take advantage of the reason(s) why the steel alloy isn't just plain mild steel in the first place.That said, if you have a filler/electrode question, you can always go to the websites of the various filler/electrode makers or just call their tech/help lines.There is LOTS of good information at places like the Lincoln or ESAB websites.www.lincolnelectric.comwww.esabna.com  (that's ESAB North America, hence esabna    )Lincoln recently (in the last year or so) redid their website and also 'branched off' some of their literature/tech info to another website.  You can get to it from their 'main' website, or you can just go right here for a whole bunch of their filler catalogs and help/tech guides.http://www.lincolnusmarketing.com/pr...asp?cat=CAT105For stainless stuff, read/get their C6.4000 guidehttp://www.lincolnelectric.com/asset...ure/C64000.pdfUse the right filler (and procedure) for the job.Usually, 316 filler would be used for 316 parent material.But 302 or 304 parent material would be welded with 308 filler.309 filler can be used with several different parent materials, and is often used to weld dissimilar parent materials (stainless to plain carbon steel, for instance).Pay attention to the 'variant' parent materials, such as 304L or 316L or 316H, as you usually want to match even more so the 'special' characteristics of the parent material with the correct filler/electrode.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:I just started looking into stick welding stainless and like MoonRise states look at the electrode manufactures documentation for the best information, I had been misinformed previous to my research there. Look also here:  http://www.avestawelding.com/Also my LWS rep was very helpful.Last edited by nikodell; 12-23-2011 at 02:11 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderMattHello all.  Simple stick welding question.  E306, E308, E309, E316.  Why is there such a variety?  Are the welding characteristics different with the different grades? And is 316 capableof welding all the lower grades?....I'm just curious, I have some stainless rod on hand and want to use it appropriately. Thanks.
Reply:Thanks guys.  I'm going to print out the .pdf files at the library when I get a chance.  I think it was page 22 of the lincoln guide that explained the flux coatings.... -15 lime, -16 titania, and -17 silica/titania.... It recommends -15 for out of position welds..... That is good to know. Thanks for all the help.Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw
Reply:And ...yes... I didn't realize just how far this rabbit hole goes...but it will make for some good reading.  And I will insist on the correct rod at work when the time comes.Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw
Reply:Well for personal use you can weld just about any stainless steel rod to any stainless steel alloy. Of course each variation of stainless steel has it's special characteristics and the right rod should be used. I've done projects where I use regular metal mig wire to weld stainless steel since it wasn't nothing special. I've also done projects where I've matched up my filler to be the right type for 316L Stainless Steel.20yrs Welding ExperienceArc, Tig, Mig, Brazing, and sometimes I just beat metal together the old fashion way.www.steelworks-online.com
Reply:http://www.lincolnusmarketing.com/pr...asp? cat=CAT105 I went to this link and ordered 10 of they're catalog/welding guides.....for FREE.  That's awesome...Last edited by WelderMatt; 12-24-2011 at 03:41 PM.Lincoln Ranger 250gxtLN-25Victor OA cutting torchMilwaukee mag-drillMilwaukee 6370-21 metal saw