Welding Stainless

Fellas,
I have a question regarding stainless filler rod.
We have a fold up pan and I need to TIG the corners for a dressed edge.
What is the best filler rod to use so I dont get any dicscoloration after dressing.
The parent metal is 18 guage #4 stainless.

Thanks in advance.

 

I use 309-LSI on 304 stainless. i'm not sure what stainless you are welding

 

do you mean 304? SS

 

Pickling paste will clean it right up. Should be available at the welding supply store.

 

304 is welded with 308. the color you get in the heat affected zone can be buffed off with a stainless wire brush or wire wheel on a grinder.

 

#4 is the polish. #4 has a grain (looks like a centerline wheel,or most countretops! 2b is the natural finish. #8 is a mirror finish!!

 

Yeah sorry wasn't clear on that.
1320/150 is right; We will end up with a #4 brush finish.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

You still haven't indicated which alloy of stainless you're using? 304/316/409/etc. Ideally you'd match the rod alloy to the base material, but you can get away with using 308 on pretty much all stainless.

 

I use 308 & 316 at the shop all the time as filler. The rainbow, and discoloration usually polishes right out with red scotchbrite.

 

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Chickenridgerods is right, as a stainless steel welder we use the same or a higher number then the material is (it goes for all metals).
If it´s 304 ss,you use 304 or 308/316. 316, is what I use 99% of the time.
When you polish it, it can be a little tone diference if you use 316 filler on 304 SS (yes SS means stainless) material, but not like on aluminum.

BUT!! A lott of people are obsessed about TIG welding.
But if you ask any welder who worked with stainless steel for a long time witch method they would use, I´m pretty sure ALL of them would say "use a 316 stick" wich is the best looking , chepest, and easiest method (..no you still have to practice!!!).
And when I think about it, I have never seen any difference in tones when I use a stick welding machine.

Good luck, Demented.ubbe

 

I would just run a fusion bead at the corner w/o fill rod and clean up with a wire brush. If you run a tight bead it will provide a nice radiused corner and look the best with a #4 finish. That way you dont have to match the grain on the rest of the sheet. I do this all the time with gaurds and covers at work.

 

SS is easy to weld with oxy/acetylene just adjust the flame with a little extra oxygen that leaves about a 1 1/2" feather on the flame, it flows like butter. I have cut SS trim into strips and used that as filler.

 

Remember when you notch to leave a metal thickness. For example on 16 gauge 1 inch flange. Notch one side at 15/16,and the other 1 inch. When you bend them both at 1 inch the gap will be tighter!!! much easier to fuse..

 

Wait a minute fellows. Stainless steel is strictly prohibited on the HAMB. Rusty metal only.

 

wait a minute!!! 3/4 of all the trim on these cars are stainless steel!!!

 

308 with pickling paste, and if you can get an argon shield on both sides of the weld that will help too.