mild steel to stainless with normal wire?

[steveo3002]

ive got some normal mig wire for regualar steel on my little clarke gas mig

need to make up a little bracket that has some stainless parts , obviously the welds will rust , but will it be a decent join still?

nothing life threatening strength wise , but need it to be strong

i also have arc welder with both types of rod...would that be better and would i use the stainless rod or normal

 

[KTMMICK]

I would suggest using dissimilar rods if you use the arc welder, mig WILL work ok......just paint them and they wont rust or paint them with clear laquer.

 

[steveo3002]

thanks

 

[Delgado]

If you've already got stainless electrodes you could also use them, E318L would be best and perfectly acceptable strength wise, but E316L will also work (I'm guessing that's what you've got). E316L are not really ideal for welding SS to Mild (or so I've heard), but they will weld fine, and I've yet to see a weld break that was done with them.(and I've seen many)

 

[Hitch]

309 is the one for dissimilar, mild to stainless.

The normal mig wire will stick the two together as a bodge, but is far from ideal.

 

[hotrodder]

309 is the correct wire, it's overalloyed to keep the weld ductile. The 18/8 stainless wires can result in a brittle weld (depending on how much dilution occurs) that'd be more crack sensitive but if it's not critical i wouldn't worry about it

 

[backpurge]

As said above........go for the 309 grade wire

 

[Bsmith]

As said above........go for the 309 grade wire

or 309 mma rods