Welding Stainless Steel

volksnick · « **on:** July 08, 2014, 10:38:24 PM »

Has anyone done it? Seems like it could be useful and someone said they'd bring a project by to weld back up. I have a MIG, but I don't have a spool gun like you need for Aluminum. Does anyone know if its as simple as swapping spools and gas and adjusting the amperage?

travisyoung · « **Reply #1 on:** July 08, 2014, 10:50:18 PM »

I've never looked into it, currently getting my tank refilled for the mig welder. Welding aluminum would also be cool

volksnick · « **Reply #2 on:** July 09, 2014, 01:30:17 AM »

Quote from: travisyoung on July 08, 2014, 10:50:18 PM

I've never looked into it, currently getting my tank refilled for the mig welder. Welding aluminum would also be cool

I've got the aluminum wire and gas for it, but I had trouble because my gun doesn't have a spool on the gun, so the soft aluminum wire birds nested when it was pushed the full length of the lead. To switch mine to a spool gun would cost nearly as much for the new version of my machine WITH the spool gun... Go figure! I might have to do it though for another project I'm looking at taking on.

With stainless, I've heard you get tri-gas and the wire. Then it's just a matter of honing in the settings. Not sure if I need a spool gun or not, but I'm thinking stainless is a little more stiff than aluminum.

travisyoung · « **Reply #3 on:** July 09, 2014, 07:45:34 AM »

That makes sense, I've taught myself how to weld but would like some training, I've been successful with welding beetle beam and winch bumpers the work without breaking

ASBug · « **Reply #4 on:** July 09, 2014, 09:36:46 AM »

With aluminum and stainless TIG is the only way to go. Your welds are beautiful.
If I was looking at a spool gun for my MIG I would look at the extra $'s and just get a TIG set up.
Yes I know what I am talking about.
Thanks.

travisyoung · « **Reply #5 on:** July 09, 2014, 12:07:26 PM »

How much is a tig set up?, you can weld steel with tig also?

volksnick · « **Reply #6 on:** July 09, 2014, 12:44:52 PM »

Quote from: travisyoung on July 09, 2014, 12:07:26 PM

How much is a tig set up?, you can weld steel with tig also?

They can be expensive. Like double a MIG set up... If you get an AC/DC one you can do both steel and aluminum.

Harbor Freight has some inexpensive options, but those seem to be more of a kit version and they appear to only be DC, so no aluminum. Pretty decent reviews though for the price.

ASBug · « **Reply #7 on:** July 10, 2014, 12:05:58 PM »

My Welder, 6 years and 29 volkswagens later I would buy it again:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-Weld-Pak-180-HD-Wire-Feed-Welder-K2515-1/100670932#certona_recommendations

Aluminum Kit for my welder:

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-us/equipment/pages/product.aspx?product=products_guntorch_gunsandtorches-magnumspool-magnumpro100sgspoolgun(lincolnelectric)&producttype=gt&detail=k3269-1

I may have to get it just to try it out.

Looks like you can weld stainless with my machine with stainless wire so this would technically fill your needs, but a TIG is just sooooo pretty when you weld with one...
So, moral of story is buy a good MIG and you can weld aluminum and stainless, but you will not have that tiny gorgeous weld you see on the high dollar exhausts...
KC

volksnick · « **Reply #8 on:** July 10, 2014, 01:54:02 PM »

hmmm... I have a Hobart 187, which has served me really well and can really put together some thick stuff. The problem is that it does not have the controller for the Spool Gun Control box, which is expensive. The version that replaced the 187 came with a built in controller and sometimes it comes with the spool gun bundled with it. If I had thought at the time that I would want to do all of this extra stuff, I'd have looked into it!

Maybe a TIG is the perfect supplement to my current set up...decisions decisions...

ASBug · « **Reply #9 on:** July 10, 2014, 02:25:10 PM »

Mine doesn't have the controller either, but that all comes with the Lincoln kit.
Might want to see if there is a similar kit for your welder's manufacturer.

I lied above, mine is actually a 140 HD I went with the 120v version because of the ease of access to 120v vs the 240 volt.
IIRC I cannot weld the heavy 3/8" stuff with out multipassing, but that is OK with me.
The above gun will work with my unit as well.
i am really thinking I need to get one of those spool guns.
I am wanting to weld up some aluminum to make some custom bikes...
KC

travisyoung · « **Reply #10 on:** July 10, 2014, 07:14:03 PM »

Eastwood has two tig welded, one for 400 and one for 800, that will be an investment when I have a shop

volksnick · « **Reply #11 on:** July 10, 2014, 07:35:13 PM »

I wouldn't get the DC one for $400 because then you can't do aluminum.

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Topic: Welding Stainless Steel (Read 8315 times)

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Welding Stainless Steel

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