Looking to Mig stainless....

[Davek0974]

Only experience on Mig is mild steel but after having got very little advance in my skills at Tig, I thought it best to stick with Mig.

Looking to make planters etc from 304 or 304L stainless, anyone give any tips on whats best or some pics of how it looks, does it affect the non-rust effect of stainless??


I have a 160A mig and the stuff is likely only 3mm thick.


Many thanks

 

[Rrunnach]

Make sure you select the correct gas mix.

 

[Davek0974]

97.5 Ar / 2.5Co2 ??

Use 304L sheet and 308L filler ??

Thats what I've gleaned from google so far

 

[Simon-]

Pure argon iirc

 

[rikrobson]

the specialist BOC is stainshield 2.5% CO2

 

[Davek0974]

I've got 100% Ar, be handy if i could use that?

Anyone got any pictures??

 

[rikrobson]

I believe pure argon is OK

 

[Kent]

It won't be quicker than tig when you take into account clean up times without an ideal mig for the job and the correct gas
It's the clean up that costs
Lookout if you work or have worked a lot of normal steel in the area and with the same tools contamination issues mean most SS is done in shops specialising in it
Are these planters for sale? Good look if they are I suspect they will be too expensive for most

 

[Davek0974]

yeah it was just an idea, cost is a bugger at times.

probably won't progress beyond an idea.

 

[rikrobson]

would mild steel and galv not be cheaper?

 

[Davek0974]

that would be a possible, will have to get some prices, next step down would be powder coat but wanted something a little 'different' this time.

 

[Richard.]

As Runnarch said you need to use the right gas MIX. pure argon isn't suitable really for SS mig you need a small % of active gas. 2.2-2.5 % Co2 balance argon is the most economical choice but I believe even better weld quality can be obtained with a drop of helium in there.
A lot of people go for 5% CO2 to cover steel/stainless Mig welding. It's not right I must add but it's a common thing done when people want to cover Both from 1 bottle.

 

[matt1978]

the specialist BOC is stainshield 2.5% CO2

Stainsheild is BOC's mix that also includes Helium, just as they do with the Argosheild range they do a Light, Universal and Heavy mix.

BOC Specsheild is the mix that has 2.5% Co2 97.5% Argon but to confuse things further they also do a Specshield with 2.5% Oxygen in

 

[Davek0974]

I use 93% Argon, 5% Carbon Dioxide and 2% Oxygen for normal Mig, I guess that won't work

My gas supplier is very limited, will have to go elsewhere for better stuff.

 

[Richard.]

I use 93% Argon, 5% Carbon Dioxide and 2% Oxygen for normal Mig, I guess that won't work

My gas supplier is very limited, will have to go elsewhere for better stuff.

It will "work" but it's not the right mix. It's too heavy on the active gas for SS but lots of people who weld at home do it and get on ok. Because they don't want the cost of a 2nd or 3rd bottle. As a trade off it's better to do it that way than 100% inert. If you've got tig at hand I'd suggest that would be the better route IMO. Get some practice in and you'll do fine.

 

[Davek0974]

Thanks all.,

I'll get some 308L wire and see what happens, just as an experiment. As said before, the price is way up there for stainless stuff, probably prohibitive for most people, but for a premium product with maybe hand brushed/grained finishes etc, it might just work.

I do have a Tig but really, really struggling to advance. I think I need one-to-one tuition where i would be told to do this or do that while i'm doing it. I tried forum learning but the feedback loop was too slow to help really, lots of great advice which was nice, but i had to run a few beads, take a picture, post it, wait for reply then go out the next day and try again - over and over, gets tedious fast, expensive too on rods and gas etc.

I prefer the easier life of point-and-shoot Mig. My stuff would also need three hands to Tig or I would need to be really good at autogenous tack welding with one hand

 

[Richard.]

Thanks all.,

I'll get some 308L wire and see what happens, just as an experiment. As said before, the price is way up there for stainless stuff, probably prohibitive for most people, but for a premium product with maybe hand brushed/grained finishes etc, it might just work.

I do have a Tig but really, really struggling to advance. I think I need one-to-one tuition where i would be told to do this or do that while i'm doing it. I tried forum learning but the feedback loop was too slow to help really, lots of great advice which was nice, but i had to run a few beads, take a picture, post it, wait for reply then go out the next day and try again - over and over, gets tedious fast, expensive too on rods and gas etc.

I prefer the easier life of point-and-shoot Mig. My stuff would also need three hands to Tig or I would need to be really good at autogenous tack welding with one hand

Where in herts are you. Pm me if you are serious about some 1-1 tuition on tig. I'm sure we could arrange it. I'm always happy to help out.

 

[rikrobson]

The "problem" with standard mig gasses used for mild steels is the extra oxygen will tend to contaminate the weld, reducing the efectiveness to resist corrosion.
I got some SS barrels and got some 2mm arc rods to weld them as opposed to a bottle of pure argon and mig wire.
I guess at some stage i'll get some tig gear and some pure argon, then do some SS or Ali tigging.

 

[backpurge]

Don't use pure argon, you need Specshield 2.5% CO2 in argon or other gas companies equivalent. Make sure you get the name right as there are about 10 different Specshield mixtures.

 

[Simon-]

Apologies for the dud info!