Stainless welding - which hobby machine?

[ShinyD]

Hi all. First post here, so I'll give a little info about me and the project I'm asking for advice on

I was a time-served fabricator/welder in the petroleum industry in the UK up until around 12 years ago when I went through a complete career change and have only done a couple of bits of hobby MMA welding since.

I was pipe coded for MMA, MIG and TIG and still remember the basic info I need for the project I've been asked to help with, although skills will be rusty!

My main hobby is Scuba diving and my dive buddy has ordered a new 23' fibreglass boat with a fishing friend of his that they intend fitting out themselves as a duel-purpose fishing/diving boat.

I've been asked if I can fabricate and weld the stainless handrails, radar gantry, etc.

I've no doubt I can do it with a little practice on mild steel just to get my skills up to speed again, but I'm at a bit of a loss to know about suitable MIG machines for hobby use.

I intend buying a machine and keeping it. It would be useful for anything else that needs to be done to the boat once it's in use, but also for any diving bits and pieces that I can make myself.

The handrails are 1.5mm thick tube and will 'sit' on round stainless flanges (large washers really). There will be a threaded bolt inserted into the tube and welded in place, with the thread protruding through the fiblreglass where it can be tightened in place with a stainless locknut.

I've been looking at the Clarke 110E as being possibly suitable, and it does mention it being suitable for stainless in the description on MM's site.

Any thoughts on this machine for the purpose I've outlined? One thing that I'm not sure of (I really can't remember) is they supply Co2 gas with it and, obviously, further gas cannisters can be purchased. Will this be suitable for stainless? I really don't remember what we used to use in the refinery for stainless work

I have 5 days left to use a discount code MM have emailed to me

 

[shenion]

You want low amounts of CO2 with stainless. Usually less than 5% CO2 and usually some O2 to add heat.

I would go with something in the 150A range.

 

[malcolm]

Completely agree with Shenion, though thought I'd expand a little.

The 110 will do 1.5mm, but it's pushing it to go much further. I'd go for a higher output if you are holding onto the welder. Difference in initial cost will be no more than £50, but change later on and you'll be looking at a whole new £250. Check out the calculator for max sensible thickness. Personally I'd go Clarke 160 as those dudes come with a reg for the gas bottles (only single gauge though).

Look up BOC Stainshield (no CO2) for the completely right gas, though we've been advised that argoshield light (a tiny bit of CO2) works well enough. Dangers of more CO2 are rust and embrittleness if I remember correctly. Pure argon would avoid that, but you will need to shose a gas bottle. There's a post at the top of the shielding gas section of the forum with some gas suppliers and costs.

 

[matt1978]

If its going to be fine/fiddley work, like 1.5mm, why not invest in a tig? You will get lots of spatter and lumpy welds trying to mig weld it, a real nice job can be achieved with tig, especially seen as you was a coded tig welder.

 

[ShinyD]

Thanks for the replies guys

Other than for this project, where consumables will be paid for, I will not be using it frequently enough to justify spending too much on it - hence asking about the 110E.

I'd stretch to the 151TE though, and I see that Argon bottles are available for it. How long does one of these disposable bottles last for these hobby machines?

I did think of TIG, but I'll be quite honest and say I wasn't too keen on it. I had my share of shocks when learning through lifting the electrode and tip too far away from the workpiece and forgetting to let go the trigger While I did learn to use it I'm not keen to go back to it!

 

[runnach]

Advice from diver to diver, been there done it and have the Tee, boats are fantastic fun, but the maintenance is incredibly time consuming. I had a half share in a 5.5 RHIB. Sold my share as I was the one with the maint/fab/weld/skills and did all the work. My share sold to other half owner as now ****** off.
who eventually purchased a not bad hard boat from the Scilley Isles (I should add, I was offered half share if I wanted to). No way of course!

Got roped in, I need this, I need that ect, I did do a few bits and pieces then got ticked off. Especially at this point when I manued a dive ladder I was asked to pay the same amount as the others on the trip.

If you value your friendship I would not get involved in this exercise, you have previous welding skills, use this as a way of not getting involved. I now have a broken friendship that can never be repaired because off a boat, taken a loan off really, your call tho! As to your original question, don't buy, you will regret this?

 

[Drains]

Advice from diver to diver, been there done it and have the Tee, boats are fantastic fun, but the maintenance is incredibly time consuming. I had a half share in a 5.5 RHIB. Sold my share as I was the one with the maint/fab/weld/skills and did all the work. My share sold to other half owner as now ****** off.
who eventually purchased a not bad hard boat from the Scilley Isles (I should add, I was offered half share if I wanted to). No way of course!

Got roped in, I need this, I need that ect, I did do a few bits and pieces then got ticked off. Especially at this point when I manued a dive ladder I was asked to pay the same amount as the others on the trip.

If you value your friendship I would not get involved in this exercise, you have previous welding skills, use this as a way of not getting involved. I now have a broken friendship that can never be repaired because off a boat, taken a loan off really, your call tho! As to your original question, don't buy, you will regret this?

I notice the OP doesn't say he's getting a share, just that he's been asked to do a bit of work. Could be for money, could be in return for trips on the boat, etc etc.

As opposed to a share, demands, and feeling hard done by (and rightly so), like yourself runnach

Shiny D, I'm surprised at your fear of the Tig, as you went as far as being coded! If you were using a scratch set you wouldn't get that problem.

I guess a 151 would do you though, and perhaps more suitable for what you need. Forget baby bottles from machine mart. They won't be the right mix, so you'll have to rent from BOC. With the cost of some s/s wire, allow a spend of at least £350, before you've struck a weld.

Still worth the trouble?

 

[ShinyD]

You're correct Simon, I don't have any financial investment in the boat, just helping a friend out.

There are somewhere in the region of 80 welds to do of around 70mm length each.

I notice that the Welders Warehouse do Argon/CO2 mix disposable cylinders that would be suitable. I've no idea how long these cylinders last though and I don't know if these only fit their machines

I'm really trying to avoid getting into the industrial type fittings and cylinders if I can.

Dave

[Edit] Oh yes, and the TIG! I did perservere and overcame my initial fears of it to get the coding, but I didn't like using it at all. Hence the reason I'd rather avoid it now! MIG welding was my favourite method

 

[shenion]

The problem with disposables is the selection is 100% CO2, 100% Ar or 75/25 Ar/CO2. None of which are suitable for stainless. And the Argon mix bottles last about 6 minutes.

It might be worth wile to rent a small tank just for the the stainless work. Then return the tank and get the CO2 disposables. CO2 does ok welds on thinner metal, you could always get a can of Ar/CO2 if you needed a cleaner job.

Also there are two threads in teh shielding gas section on no-rental gas suppliers. Here is one. Might be an option in your area.

 

[restorer]

If you check on their site, I think you'll find Welders Warehouse do a deal if you buy three disposables. It's 30 quids I seem to remember.

Having just invested in a 9.4 ltr bottle from Adams gas I'll never go back to them. The gas flow can't be controlled that easily, and they don't last very long.

If it's just a one off job though they'll probably do. I'd go with renting?
http://www.hss.com/