kruszert
Bronze Member
some stainless does rust - - - but - - -
trailer is 10 years old, kept outside, 304 stainless steel from scrap yard, welded with both mig and tig low carbon rod/wire
Tractor implements made of stainless steel
- Thread starter Zeus1
- Start date
some stainless does rust - - - but - - -
trailer is 10 years old, kept outside, 304 stainless steel from scrap yard, welded with both mig and tig low carbon rod/wire
OP
Zeus1
Bronze Member
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- Quitman, LA
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- Ford 1700 & International Harvester Cub
kruszert said:
That is one nice looking trailer! In a couple months after I finish my log splitter build I am gonna build a stainless bush hog. Mine is shot but the gear box is tip top shape. I am just gonna copy the design of my bush hog and swap the gear box out. I will revive this thread after there is some photos to show.
LD1
Epic Contributor
Thats the way I understand it.
Gary Fowler
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I would be looking at using aluminum rather than stainless. Some of the aluminum alloys are stronger than steel and are used on battle tanks and armored personnel carriers. I think it would be a bit cheaper than Stainless and much stronger and not as susceptable to warping and cracking like stainless. All chromium alloys(stainless steels above 12% chromium)) are very susceptible to corrosion cracking from salts with chloride ions in them and also some dirty water anaerobic bacteria will eat chromium to a honey comb in certain circumstances. I have seen many stainless steel (304L ) pipelines eaten up with bacteria from hydrotest water. Even the chlorine in potable water will have a detrimental effect on stainless. It just isnt the right alloy for all "non-rust" applications.
kruszert
Bronze Member
First to answer the question about "L" on the welding rods - - yes it does stand for low carbon. When you weld stainless the carbon comes to the surface of the weld and discolors/rusts. You have to use a wire brush to clean the weld after welding even when using low carbon rods if you want to keep the shinny silver stainless look.
Stainless is not for all applications - - exposure to chlorides as Gary said will cause corrosion cracking - - - salt water being one of the main sources. But they still use stainless in boating applications it just doesn't last forever. I have tried to repair handrails on a sailboat and found the metal was so badly corroded that there was nothing left to weld but the sailboat was 25 years old and kept in salt water all the time. In normal applications around the home and farm I have made many things out of stainless that are good as new 25 years after I build them.
As for aluminum I am far from an expert and only have a little experiecne. Some are stronger than steel and some are NOT weldable (found that out the hard way). The aluminum types I have delt with are the 6000 series. They are weldable using tig high frequency or a mig spoon gun with argon gas but it takes higher amperage than when welding steel or stainless since the aluminum conducts the heat away from the weld much faster. Not something that everyone has in their garage. They do corrode with exposure to salt water also.
As for what is best - - depends on your application. One thing for sure stainless is heavier than aluminum. The trailer in the picture weights 1800# empty - - mostly made from 1/4" or 3/16" stainless. However, it will carry a load.
Stainless is not for all applications - - exposure to chlorides as Gary said will cause corrosion cracking - - - salt water being one of the main sources. But they still use stainless in boating applications it just doesn't last forever. I have tried to repair handrails on a sailboat and found the metal was so badly corroded that there was nothing left to weld but the sailboat was 25 years old and kept in salt water all the time. In normal applications around the home and farm I have made many things out of stainless that are good as new 25 years after I build them.
As for aluminum I am far from an expert and only have a little experiecne. Some are stronger than steel and some are NOT weldable (found that out the hard way). The aluminum types I have delt with are the 6000 series. They are weldable using tig high frequency or a mig spoon gun with argon gas but it takes higher amperage than when welding steel or stainless since the aluminum conducts the heat away from the weld much faster. Not something that everyone has in their garage. They do corrode with exposure to salt water also.
As for what is best - - depends on your application. One thing for sure stainless is heavier than aluminum. The trailer in the picture weights 1800# empty - - mostly made from 1/4" or 3/16" stainless. However, it will carry a load.
