All round stainless rod

[Mr shiney]

What would the best stainless rods to keep around for general stainless welding where I am not sure of the flavour of stainless. Generally stuff like exhaust pipes and brackets. Nothing life critical.

 

[Richard.]

If it's a general 304 grade you want to weld then a 308 filler is a good one to keep on the shelf.
Match 316 with 316
Any dissimilar work (mild to stainless) a 309 is a good common filler. There is not really an "all rounder" as such there is the the right grade to match the job. Check out the stainless Tig tutorials on here they really explain well what fillers and grades to use together.

 

[Tigman]

308 when you dont know what grade you have !

 

[antonio costa]

Both great opinions! With unknown kind of stainless usually I prefer 309 filler but 308 does a great job also. And like Richard said works also well in stainless to mild steel welds. But for that (dissimilar welds, mild to stainless steel) the 312 rod also works quite well but it's more expensive.
But the best advice I can give you is when possible to match the filler to the base metal and to the operating conditions (talking about critical aplications of course)

 

[Mr shiney]

I don't do critical applications. It's mostly repairs. Things like exhausts where I never know what the stainless type is. So I was after a rod that would give me the best chance of success. We have gone for a pack of 1.6mm 309L. See how that works out!

 

[Richard.]

309/312 are over alloying rods and the idea behind them is when they are used with steel to stainless or 2 dissimilar stainless grades they over alloy when diluted so you still get the chromium content for corrosion resistance and nickel for ductility. As tigman said above if your not sure what your welding then a 308 is a good choice. Keep your 309's for dissimilar work.

 

[Richard.]

Oh and I really suggest you read the stainless welding tutorials as the info in there is brilliant.
I would recommend reading them all.

 

[Mr shiney]

Thanks Richard, I have read every tutorial on the site a number of times over but they still don't answer the odd questions that I come up with!! Same as the last four years at college doing MIG and and now TIG. It's why we reel of the daft questions to guys like you!!

What's the implications of using a 309L on one of my exhausts or the air box that I am currently plasma cutting and will well up. I have no idea what the sheet I am using is, it's a bit of 1.5m stainless that I got given and you never kick a gift horse in the mouth!! I was planning on welding that with the 309.

 

[antonio costa]

You are spot on Richard! I talked about the 309 because lot's of times I deal with different grades of SS , for instance stainless nuts or threaded inserts to plate or pipe with unknown grades of dissimilar stainless. Even then it could be a mistake I know, if one the them is a 316, the lack of molybdenum in the 309 filler will make a diference.
The 312 I've also used it in cast iron ith great success precisely because of what you mentioned the higher nickel content that gives it great ductility.

Regards,
Antonio Costa

309/312 are over alloying rods and the idea behind them is when they are used with steel to stainless or 2 dissimilar stainless grades they over alloy when diluted so you still get the chromium content for corrosion resistance and nickel for ductility. As tigman said above if your not sure what your welding then a 308 is a good choice. Keep your 309's for dissimilar work.

 

[Richard.]

Personally I don't think your going to have an issue using 309 for your repairs I just think there more suitable for dissimilar work.
Have a read through this old thread I think all your questions will become answered. http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/stainless-steel-grades-and-suitability.23647/

 

[langy]

Thanks Richard, I have read every tutorial on the site a number of times over but they still don't answer the odd questions that I come up with!! Same as the last four years at college doing MIG and and now TIG. It's why we reel of the daft questions to guys like you!!

What's the implications of using a 309L on one of my exhausts or the air box that I am currently plasma cutting and will well up. I have no idea what the sheet I am using is, it's a bit of 1.5m stainless that I got given and you never kick a gift horse in the mouth!! I was planning on welding that with the 309.

Most exhausts are 304

 

[Richard.]

I thought they would be

 

[Mr shiney]

Thanks guys. I am really just trying to cut down on buying dozens of different rods for small jobs.

 

[langy]

I thought they would be

Except the ones I make which are 316L

 

[langy]

Thanks guys. I am really just trying to cut down on buying dozens of different rods for small jobs.

On something like an exhaust I just use a 316 rod, never had a problem and trust me I've done a few in my time

 

[Paul.]

On something like an exhaust I just use a 316 rod, never had a problem and trust me I've done a few in my time

Me too, I use 316 filler for all 3 series grades of stainless, never had a problem either, like langy I've done the odd bit of stainless.

 

[chevy2]

Add me to the list, only keep 316 here.