stainless steel welding

[sacvwgolf]

Hi, i am planing on doing some stainless steel welding (around 1.2mm thickness) and i've had a go with it and seems ok but i was wondering if there is a 0.6 wire avaible as i had a look and it dosen't look like anybody does it. I'm using 0.8mm at the moment and i think i could benefit from 0.6mm SS wire.

Thanks

Scott

 

[matt1978]

I am sure someone would do it mate, but it will be hellishly expensive

 

[Hitch]

Im guessing your looking for 0.6mm s/s mig wire...

A quick google finds it...

Not sure where you are in Devon, but give Welly Weld in Plymouth a call... or probably find it a bit cheaper on the net....

 

[Robert]

Hi, i am planing on doing some stainless steel welding (around 1.2mm thickness) and i've had a go with it and seems ok but i was wondering if there is a 0.6 wire avaible as i had a look and it dosen't look like anybody does it. I'm using 0.8mm at the moment and i think i could benefit from 0.6mm SS wire.

Thanks

Scott

Hi
Are you doing this MIG or TIG?? What gas are you using if MIG. I have tried argon 100% and argon with 5%O2 and was not happy with either as the weld was a grey color. I was using .032" (0.8) 316L wire, 308 might be a better choice. The best weld that I had was with argon100% highest heat range and almost 100% wire speed T weld 1/2" SS bar using a Millermatic 185.

I hope you are successful. Please keep posting.
Thanks
Robert

 

[sacvwgolf]

i'm using the mig with argon and c02 (i think) and the weld does come out greyish with all the puddle on the other side (is this normal?)

 

[Robert]

Argon co2 is not recommended for stainless. the puddle on the back side must be dealt with by back gassing - argon on the far side to stop oxygen from coming in contact with the SS while it is beyond critical temperature. You can also use a copper backing strip to take the heat but I just use argon with a cardboard and tape retainer.
Good luck
Robert

 

[matt1978]

Argon Co2 mix is perfectly acceptable for Mig welding Stainless steel...........the only thing to consider is the actual Co2 content, as long as its around 2-3% then its absolutely fine. If you are using conventional standard mig, then you would get much better (Cleaner) results with a Argon/Co2/Helium mix, but this mix is very expensive (over £100) a cylinder and I don't think is available in throwaways.

 

[Robert]

Matt1978
I am going by the book I had while I was in the welding class at school, Welding Principles and Practices - third edition P817 table 22-4. The only gas that is listed with CO2 is 90%HE+7.5% AR+2.5% CO2 with the other gas being AR + 1-2% O2. I tried it with 75-25 argon CO2 and it made a mess but it could be done with 100% argon on thin sections back gassed. The HE gas mix is expensive but will give a good job. TIG is slower but the results are better looking for me and that is what I use.

Hope this helps
Robert

 

[sacvwgolf]

Im guessing your looking for 0.6mm s/s mig wire...

A quick google finds it...

Not sure where you are in Devon, but give Welly Weld in Plymouth a call... or probably find it a bit cheaper on the net....

Thanks, any chance you could point me in the right direction as i had a look through google and i just can't find any .

Thanks

Scott

 

[matt1978]

Your right the gases that you mention (the tri-mix and the O2) are also very suitable, but you can also use a 98% Ar 2% Co2 (weldap 2), this mix is done by Airproducts or BOC do a mix which is 97.5% Ar 2.5% Co2 (Specshield).

Either of these gases give very good results, especially when using Pulsed mig, as I said a Tri mix gas would give better results on Standard mig as I imagine this guy is using, but never the less a 2 or 3% Co2 mix would also be fine.

 

[Robert]

Matt1978
Would going to a 308 alloy help?? I was limited in selection while in school and I wanted to join 316L. I was building the rigging for a shrimp boat and wanted to MIG it for speed. I was not confidant enough with the quality weld produced from the MIG so I used the TIG and it took a LONG TIME in the July heat to finish but it looks good and will not fail in a few years as the others were stick welded.
I have not tried flux core wire -- would this solve sacvwgolf's problem??? I am bidding on some 316L and 308 flux core on E-Bay now. I think that it will be like dual shield. I would think that .8 mm wire should be ok to use on the 1.2mm plate if you are fast. What is the alloy of the plate and what wire are you trying to use on it?
My tig is pulsed and my next MIG will be a pulsed machine I want to do some things in aluminium

Try this place
http://www.boehler-welding.com/

 

[Weldingartisan]

Away you go Matt, another prospective sale coming up!
Incidently I've not forgotten the trial offer you made me, so when funds permit.......W/A

 

[matt1978]

Away you go Matt, another prospective sale coming up!
Incidently I've not forgotten the trial offer you made me, so when funds permit.......W/A

No prbs mate, just let me know when your ready