weld stainless steel

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I have a Lincoln WeldPak 3200HD (120V) MIG. I have been offered a lot of stainless steel project so my question is (What wire and gas do i need to weld stainless steel? or is there innersheild wire I can use? projects like meat smokers, bbq pits, rod holder. Any info would be greatly appriciated.... thanks
Reply:Mild to stainless (304/316) use 309L wire & tri-mix.  The weld will have a black soot left after welding, but will wire brush off.304, 308, 316 to itself, use the same wire as the base metal.  Gas is the same.  316 is non magnetic, I'm not sure about 304/308.  I know a couple stainless grades are magnetic.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:You will not be able to weld stainless steel with that welding machine because it does not produce enough heat. Sorry.I tried once and I even bought expensive tri mix gas, Turned the settings on the machine to extremes and had the right filler wire the smallest size. Lincoln 110V wire feed.I was trying to join 22 gage stainless (2 inch X4 inch plates( and when the machine was turned up all the way if you moved very fast it would make a weld that looked like tooth paste that came out of the tube.I tried every combination of settings travel speed and filler wires. NO DICE.The 220V machine will work but you still will not get the results like a TIG machine will get.309 filler wire is used to join steel to stainless steel.If the filler wire has 308 "L" that means low carbon and that is good to keep the carbon content low as possible.BTW when welding 304 base metal use 308 filler. Always try to use one step higher on the filler material.And 316 use 316 filler wire.ALSO innersheild wire is hollow in the center filler with powdered flux.In stainless it is called duel sheild.Last edited by Donald Branscom; 01-06-2011 at 12:42 AM.AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2Mild to stainless (304/316) use 309L wire & tri-mix.  The weld will have a black soot left after welding, but will wire brush off.304, 308, 316 to itself, use the same wire as the base metal.  Gas is the same.  316 is non magnetic, I'm not sure about 304/308.  I know a couple stainless grades are magnetic.
Reply:What happens if you try to weld stainless using 75/25 argoshield?-- This space for rent.  Inquire within.
Reply:Originally Posted by Donald BranscomYou will not be able to weld stainless steel with that welding machine because it does not produce enough heat. Sorry.I tried once and I even bought expensive tri mix gas, Turned the settings on the machine to extremes and had the right filler wire the smallest size. Lincoln 110V wire feed.I was trying to join 22 gage stainless (2 inch X4 inch plates( and when the machine was turned up all the way if you moved very fast it would make a weld that looked like tooth paste that came out of the tube.I tried every combination of settings travel speed and filler wires. NO DICE.
Reply:Originally Posted by MarkBall2Mild to stainless (304/316) use 309L wire & tri-mix.  The weld will have a black soot left after welding, but will wire brush off.304, 308, 316 to itself, use the same wire as the base metal.  Gas is the same.  316 is non magnetic, I'm not sure about 304/308.  I know a couple stainless grades are magnetic.