Stainless steel welding, how

[Dermott]

Hi all,
Somebody out there probabaly has an answer for me, I need to weld 4mm ss on location, I have a 4kva generator. I am used to stick arc welding, generator will just manage 2mm rods on an old sip welder and mild steel. I have been told that an inverter welder will give more amps, and do I need gas with ss?
TIA
D

 

[Timpo]

MMA/TIG

SS arc rods (316L) at 2mm will use about 60-70 amps, or you can use dis-similar rods which will fuse the two pieces at the same amperage.
No need for an inverter set, ie TIG/argon set up as this is costly to set up.
If your going to do this as a regular task, then investment would be favourable, but what you got now will do the job for you.
Hope this helps.
Timpo.

 

[Loiq]

I took my stuff down to local fabricator who make custom exhausts and wierd looking stuff. paid £10 matey looked well pleased got all the welding done right proper... don't hink he gets too many punters wandering in off street with drawings and all the stuff to be welded...

ALL that TIG stuff when it's all going looks very clever... and the gas must cost some money for sure so must be money in it if you can get the work for it...

 

[Blackal]

As mentioned - if you are welding stainless and carbon steel, use a 308 (I think) rod, otherwise - a 316L rod is as good as you'll get.

Two important points:

1) Don't weld on the bike without removing electronic items (all of them)

2) Let the weldment cool down slowly (do not quench).

Al

 

[Dermott]

SS arc rods (316L) at 2mm will use about 60-70 amps, or you can use dis-similar rods which will fuse the two pieces at the same amperage.
No need for an inverter set, ie TIG/argon set up as this is costly to set up.
If your going to do this as a regular task, then investment would be favourable, but what you got now will do the job for you.
Hope this helps.
Timpo.

Thanks Timpo.
Just to get things clear, if I get the right rods, an ac arc welder will do the job? no flux, no gas. This is not a bike job, its in a playground, is not loadbearing, just need to fillet/join 300mm strips of 4mm ss plate and grind smooth. I may get more of this work, if so, what kind of equipment should I be looking at?
Thanks
D

 

[fuddy]

Thanks Timpo.
Just to get things clear, if I get the right rods, an ac arc welder will do the job? no flux, no gas. This is not a bike job, its in a playground, is not loadbearing, just need to fillet/join 300mm strips of 4mm ss plate and grind smooth. I may get more of this work, if so, what kind of equipment should I be looking at?
Thanks
D

Just get a couple of 2 mm rods (316) and see what they weld like.
You only need gas if you are tig welding, which is not ideal working outside.
chamfer edges of plate, otherwise you will end up grinding all your weld away.
Dont use to many amps as stainless plate will bend like a bastard.

 

[Timpo]

Sets

Any arc welder will do you, I got a £24 set from Aldi a while back and that does most of the jobs I need. Any more specialist applications, I take to work where we have AC/DC Tig, MMA and MIG sets.
As one of the chaps has said, TIG and MIG are not the best for welding outside as the gas can be blown away resulting in a poor weld.
If I was setting up for business, it would be a diesel genset for outside work, and an AC/DC set for in the workshop. But that's a few bobs worth.
Try calling this firm, they have new and second hand sets for sale.
http://www.johndavies.co.uk

Timpo.

 

[Dermott]

failed

Thanks for all the help, chaps, nice german company supplied a box of 2.5mm ss rods, but my genny had not enough power to run my old sip, will have to hire a genset.
D

 

[Banjaxed]

Or possibly...

Buy Vern a few pints and get HIM to do it...

 

[Welshman]

I have got about 20 odd TIG welders about 15 Submerged Arc welders welding 904 Inconel 601 60mm odd thick etc etc, but no idea how to glue together 2 bits of 4mm using a home set.

Welsh