Im looking to buy a stainless steel wire off of harborfreight.com, and Im debating between a few. I know i want 0.023" wire, but Im hung up on the stainless grade. They offer wire that is 308 stainless and 316 stainless. My exhaust piping that I will be welding is 304 stainless. Which is most suitable to weld 304 with?

 

308 my friend. 316 is used for 316 stainless which is more expensive and mostly used in in highly corrosive environments like areas near salt water.

If you are looking to buy just one wire you can get away with welding uncritical mild steel parts with the 308 wire as well ie exhuast tubing random small brackets and stuff.

 

Thanks man- ordered it. Any tips on where I should set my heat at for welding this exhaust? I dont want to blow through...

 

what thickness, what gas and what machine are you using?


**** just saw your reply. I don't think I've ever welding with that exact setup. I usually use trimix and .035 wire. try http://www.millerwelds.com and click on education. there is a link to a mig welding parameter calc there.

 

0.023" thickness wire, pure argon gas, Miller 125 machine, and the metal thickness is pretty thin, id guess 1/16" or less?

 

sounds like you are ready to go. just use a little more amperage than mild steel and move right along.

 

check my site under links or articles, i forget where, and youll find a link to a stainless filler selection chart.
http://www.foxraceco.com

good luck

 

You need tri-mix if you are going to weld stainless with a MIG unit. If you had a TIG welder you could then use argon.

John

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1fastVX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You need tri-mix if you are going to weld stainless with a MIG unit. If you had a TIG welder you could then use argon.

John</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had a thread going before, and people debated that. Some said that I should use trimix only for thicker metal, and some said i should use trimix on the exhaust. Others said I should use pure argon. Im confused now, ive never welded stainless, except with steel wire and argon co2.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 1fastVX &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">You need tri-mix if you are going to weld stainless with a MIG unit. If you had a TIG welder you could then use argon.

John</TD></TR></TABLE>

weird, we must have a different names for gasses up here in maine becasue pure argon works great everytime i use it. Have you tried welding SS with pure argon or argon/helium? i suspect not

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ManBearPig4silly &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what thickness, what gas and what machine are you using?


**** just saw your reply. I don't think I've ever welding with that exact setup. I usually use trimix and .035 wire. try http://www.millerwelds.com and click on education. there is a link to a mig welding parameter calc there. </TD></TR></TABLE>

to the link.. I just spent about and hour and half going through some of the tutorials. I'm really wanting to learn to weld. So, this should help out quite a bit. thanks alot!


-Chad-