best stainless electrode?

[BrokenBiker]

once I have bought my new welder (settled on parweld xti160), i will need to get hold of some good quality SS electrodes.

i am not sure what grade stainless i will be welding most of the time.

most of it is magnetic but some of it isn't.

i have been told either 309 or 312 will work on pretty much anything? is this correct?

are there any other rods that will work when grade is unknown?

 

[petedut]

We use these in work which seem to be very good- MUREX Arc Stainless Steel Welding Rods Nicrex E316L-16

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers petedut?

are they capable of welding dissimilar steels? i.e. stainless to mild, or low to high carbon steels?

only reason I ask is I need a good maintenance rod too for things like tractor buckets and plough's

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

You will want hard facing rods for digger buckets and ploughs ect. the ones we use are Martensitic stainless I think so slightly corrosion resistant. They are hard even on the first pass. You need a fairly high OCV to run them i think they are about 500 or 600 on the rockwell scale.

You can weld dissimilar metals with most stainless electrodes. 308 Are the most common and can weld dissimilar with them.

 

[Tino]

I use 312's for things that I know are not going to like being welded. I've had some very good results and they are now my default go to rod when I need a dissimilar. They are expensive but not as expensive as a job coming back because its failed.

 

[BrokenBiker]

cheers guys. I can get 308, 312 and 316 fairly easily. will look into some hard facing rods too

 

[Tino]

Take a look at the Arc Welding Tutorial, Welding Different Steels, Stainless Steel , might help you decide which is right for you.

 

[BrokenBiker]

yeah have had a look at that. didn't realise it was there until I started this thread.

have found some hard facing rods so might order a small batch of them and have a go.

have already got some 308 so might order some more of those too

 

[aidank]

when using dissimilar rods gentlemen do you just need to use the dissimilar rod for the first pass the one that is marrying the two dissimilar metals together.

will an ordinary 6013 then stick to the dissimilar rod material without issue ? or is this disaster region

 

[BrokenBiker]

I would use a dissimilar for every pass as the 6013 wont have the right properties. otherwise you could just use a 6013 any way

 

[TechnicAl]

As Tino says 312 is a good choice as a "do all " electrode. 309 and 307 are others, a bit softer than 312.

The ultimate is 625 but they are much more expensive

 

[wheresmejumper]

when using dissimilar rods gentlemen do you just need to use the dissimilar rod for the first pass the one that is marrying the two dissimilar metals together.

will an ordinary 6013 then stick to the dissimilar rod material without issue ? or is this disaster region

dont know much about it but read it on here,theres a process called buttering.
first rod type lays a base on the parent metal,then second rod type is laid on top for desired finish