Need to weld stainless steel

[del10820]

HI welders I know some of you weld stainless steel. I am building a project out of a recycled stainless steel box about 16 gauge. It needs to be water tight on the bottom section, and I need to weld the seam on one side (about 36") and patch some bolt holes in bottom and sides, and install some rack framing . I will be using my sons big Lincon mig welder (it's 220v 50 amp) with co2/argon gas . Know I will need to get Stainless wire. How much different does it weld than regular steel and any special prep needed?

Thanks for those willing to share the information Del.

 

[hog987]

If your not worried about rust you can weld stainless with regular wire. With the stainless wire you will want just argon gas.

 

[mrmikey]

If you're using a wire feed with s/s wire, you have to us a tri-mix, argon/oxygen/C02, tig use straight argon. If you use regular steel wire it'll rust and won't weld the best but it is do-able....Mike

 

[yomax4]

No straight Argon. Another gas option is 98 Argon / 2 CO2 or another good tri mix is 85 AR/13HE/2CO2. You may also want to know the base metal. Different SS like different grades of SS wire. Lastly if you buy wire, Get the "L" version ( Low Carbon for less inner weld corrosion ) and HS or SI ( added Siicon for wet out and fluidity) Example - 308LSI or 308LHS both are the same low carbon added silicon. 16ga? you may want to consider Tig welding some of it?

 

[Brad_Blazer]

If you want to do it inexpensively you can stick weld it. Firepower 308 Stainless Steel Stick Welding Electrode 1440-0165

 

[Arc weld]

Yomax4, I know the L by itself means low carbon but I've also heard of low silicate wire and thought that's what the LSI stands for? Maybe I was told wrong? I know for things like root passes on vessels using steel wire, they'll often specify S2 wire so there's less silicon pockets on the weld. For the OP, you might get by with a 2 pound spool of wire if it will fit on the machine. Stainless isn't cheap and if you don't know what type of stainless it is, 316 is the highest grade and has the most corrosion resistance. It is also what is specified for food grade and will weld the lower class stainless as well. For a little job like that use straight argon. You should be able to rent a small cylinder for a few days from the welding supply.

 

[del10820]

Thanks for the Info. I do not know the grade the SS is . Is their any way to tell easly? I will check on the gas when I get the wire. Company is sending me out for a few weeks so project will go on hold for a few weekends.
Del

 

[swines]

No straight Argon

Why not? I've used it for the past 10 years with my MIG and TIG as I don't want to switch to yet another gas on the machines when doing aluminum. It's worked for me on everything from 14 gage SS to 3/8 SS with the MIG and 12 gage to 20 gage SS with the TIG.

 

[wdchyd]

TIG weld only......unless you don't mind the leaks.......But that's just me.....:2cents:

 

[del10820]

I do not have TIG , only MIG or stick. Sold my old TIG 20 years ago and have not replaced it due to lack of extra funds in my play account.
Del