Arc welding stainless

[steeo]

I have a 180amp arc welder that I have for a few years, I was asked to do a repair on a childs see-saw which is stainless steel where 3no 1" welds have broken. I got 6no 2.5mm stainless rods from a mate of mine and I am wondering will my arc welder do the job ???
The 2 plates that have to be welded together are 5mm thick.

The rods I have are :

Low Carbon Universal Stainless
Kestra 4435 LCW AC/DC (+)

 

[Dogbreath23]

you shouldnt have any problem by the sound of it mate...

 

[Paul.]

When arc welding stainless be careful of the slag, as the weld cools the slag jumps off, usually just as your looking at the job without the shield down, safety specs and top overall button done up is the best way, other than that your welder should do the job just fine.

 

[the snooper]

When arc welding stainless be careful of the slag, as the weld cools the slag jumps off,.

ive had that happen stuck right to my eye lid and it does hurt a little

 

[steeo]

Thanks for the replies, would the amps be the same as mild steel or would it be higher or lower ???

BTW I have a lovely scar on my left cheek from the last time I used a rod like this, the rods were 3.2mm and the flux was blue. Dont know what the rods were but I do know now that the bloody flux hops off while the weld is cooling

 

[GeorgeB]

Thanks for the replies, would the amps be the same as mild steel or would it be higher or lower ???

As for any new job, I'd suggest testing the setting on near-identical scrap material first.

 

[chunkolini]

Useful advice there Paul, one to remember, aquote from Derek Pritchard's Welding abd Brazing' book. 'A piece of hot flux in the eye could be A little painful' understatement?

Chunko'.

 

[steeo]

Right got to do this welding today.

It was further away than I thought from a socket so I ended up using a 130amp genny welder. The welds are not too pleasing to the eye but in my defence it was upside down and i had 5mm of a gap to get the rod into.

Where I had to weld is above the right hand red spring, there is a 5mm plate that is bolted through the sring and onto the plate. The plate is then welded to the round bar which is where it broke.

I was looking at taking the timber in the middle of the see-saw off to weld the bars onto the plate that way but there is stupid security bolts in them and they would have to be drilled out.

This is the see-saw

This is one of the better welds