First TIG project - which filler for 304?

[BillJ]

After a little practice, I'll be starting my first TIG project shortly. I'll be welding 304 stainless and appearance will matter. Since 304 filler doesn't appear to be available, I think 308 is the one to use but I've done a search both here and on the Internet in general and can't find a recommendation.

I could simply find out by experiment but I don't want to find that what looks OK on practice runs turns out to be annoyingly visible on the finished item or starts to show after some time. I'm probably worrying about nothing

Strength doesn't matter a lot - Blu-Tak would probably be strong enough

 

[craigthewelder]

We always use 308 filler when welding 304.

 

[Sam]

One shop stop me! I have always used 316.

 

[Garreth]

I've always worked on the basis that you can use a rod with a higher number than the parent metal, but not lower.

IE 308 or 316 rods for 304, but only 316 rods for 316.

If that makes sense ! But then again I might be wrong

Garreth

 

[BillJ]

Thanks, folks! I'll use 308, then. I'm hoping I can get away without filler on a lot of the welds so the few 308 rods I have might be enough. I'll get some more in anyway, since I'll probably weld more 304 than 316 (I have loads of 316 rods).

Bit more practice first, though...

 

[Wanderingmiles]

Stainless grades and fillers...

Thought this link may be helpfull for all you (me) novices....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

helped me get to grips with all the different grades and fillers....

 

[BillJ]

1Kg of 1.6mm 308L rods are now winging their way from Weldequip

 

[BillJ]

Thought this link may be helpfull for all you (me) novices....

Thanks, WM. Extremely useful!

 

[Delgado]

At work we just use 316 filler rods for everything,(read 304 and 316) being as we don't pay for them Just out of intrest, what's the difference in price between 308 and 316 filler rods?

 

[ngt]

308 does not have molybdenum.
Molybdenum gives 316 better overall corrosion resistant properties than 308, particularly higher resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion in chloride environments