Need help with stainless steel

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I had my maple syrup evaporator pans stolen, and i need some new ones, but can't afford the $1600 price tag.  I have a Lincoln buzz box, and that stick welder has gotten me a long way.  I have moderate welding experience, but have never tried to weld 16 gauge stainless.  I have access to a mig welder also.  So the big question is, other then a TIG, what is the best way to weld 16g stainless?  With a stick or mig?  I would rather do it with a stick, if that is possible, what do you guys think??This is a picture of what i would like to build,... Attached Images
Reply:Where are you located and how fast do you need them?  I MAY be able to line something up, because I love Maple Syrup.Mike
Reply:MMMMMMMMMM..... Maple syrup......_________________Chris
Reply:Mig works fine. .023 wire.  Practice on a bunch of stuff before you build something that big.  Warping will be a big problem.  I have fixed a few of those, but never made one.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Before going at it too hard, will this be subject to inspection (health inspector, whoever else)? Sanitary welding has some fairly tight requirements with regard to finish, to insure that cleaning can be done effectively, and there isn't a risk of contamination of hte product. One reason TIG is used so often.
Reply:Where are you located, and do you have any experience using a mig welder?If you don't have the time to do it right, then you definitely don't have the time to do it over.
Reply:Tig would be your best bet. Location would help.  Alot of people can help out.
Reply:Hahaa - Damiani, have TIG, will work for syrup! Ah, true maple syrup is so damn good!John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:That looks like a very ambitious project.  That looks like alot of skilled work.  I think there is a reason these are $1600.  Could you take a different approach and modify SS beer kegs, or 55 gallon SS drums?
Reply:Thanks for the replies, gentlemen.  I live where the sap flows best, Canada.  Close to Ottawa, and about one hour from Montreal, on the Ontario and Quebec border.  Its only about 45 minutes to the US, NY border.  I have limited MIG welding experience, and no experience welding SS.  But i have the time and the ability to be patient and master it before tackleing the project.  A modified keg or tank won't do, because it will prolong the evaporation process. And since it takes 40 gallons of sap to evaporate down and make one gallon of syrup, time is of the essence.  I am looking at needing them within the next 6 weeks.  And with regards to the sanitation issue, as long as there made with stainless steel it passes.  There are some tests required but only regarding lead contact, because alot of older pans are soldered with lead.I will gladly share the authentic syrup, or as we say, liquid goldHere is an example of what my evaporator unit looked like when it WAS intact.  You can see that the pan is just the part from the brass valve up, and it just sits on top of the "evaporator arch". Attached ImagesLast edited by mike39chef; 02-20-2007 at 04:37 PM.
Reply:Please help me guys, i need all the input i can get to figure out how to replace my valuble pans.  ThanksI'm usually not a praying man, but if your up there, please save me superman
Reply:If you want to buy the material and pay for consumables, maybe some free maple syrup, I'm only a few hours from you and have a TIG. I'm just 30 minutes south of Watertown. If you want to venture on your own and have no health regulations to follow, you can certainly MIG it with the correct wire and gas. You need ER308L wire with tri-gas, which is Helium/Argon/CO2.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:The Lincoln welding series... I think it's edition II has plans for making a maple syrup evaporating unit.... my copy of the book is in the other room.***************************************Lincoln AC225 stick welderLincoln HD100 WeldPak flux core wire feed welderThree of the cheapest grinders money can buy
Reply:I have done some welding in commerical kitchens on stainless sinks and countertops.  The only thing I have to worry about is on place for "stuff" to hide and hang on to bacteria.  Smooth welds.  If the are not smooth, grind or use a flap wheel.Stainless is a pain in the butt to work with. A mig with .023 wire will do it nicely but practice on other stuff before you work on the real thing.Everything has to be protected on the back side or it will "sugar".  All welds need to be cleaned up with a wire wheel no matter how smooth.  It brings the nickle out of the stainless.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:I know a guy that owns a shop that makes one of the appliances used in the waffle house (lots of stainless there).  He said all they use now is mig.  I would betcha, with just a bit of practice, you do it fine with mig.  Heat is an issue with warpage.  However, I would venture a guess that you are likely to warp less with mig, just because the tendency for weldors new to stainless tig welding is to linger or go slow.  With a mig, you can probably better adjust your speed, especially as a since you aren't used to tig.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:Thanks everybody, i appreciate all your input.  Microzone, i just may take you up on that offer at some point down the road.  once again, thanks for the tips.MKI'm usually not a praying man, but if your up there, please save me superman