i need to weld up my exhaust (mild flanges to stainless tubing) but NO ONE, i mean NO ONE, has 309L filler... they can order it but i have to buy 10lbs at a time, no thanks.

are there any other alternatives?

 

312 filler rod

 

Use 308 or 316 ... you will be fine.

 

honestly, anything but aluminum filler.

 

I am having the same issue. I need 309L to weld the stainless pipe to the mild steel head flange and nobody has it. For something like do I not have a choice but to use 309L?

 

man, um 308,312,316.

 

I always used 308 or mild steel rod (forgot the number) and never had an issue.

Adriano

 

Perfect... Just what I wanted to hear. Now, between 308 & 316 which would be better?

 

Call some of the specialty welding shops in the area and see if they will sell you the proper rod. Tell them you just need a few rods.

 

I have 3/32 309. I'll mAil you some rods ifyou want.

 

It's REALLY not that critical. You could weld it with mild steel and it will still last forever. 308 or 316 will work fine.

 

Quick question. I am building a turbo manifold for my current setup, and the flanges are mild, pipe is stainless. I have the 309L, but it is harder for me to dab the 3/32 and get a small puddle, I'm used to using the 1/16 308. So you guys are saying that 308 will still be fine if welded properly?

 

The point of using 309L is not so much for strength as it is a measure to try to keep the stainless half of whatever you are welding, stainless.

Welding it with 308 isd perfectly strong, but if the flange starts to rust, that rust will be more prone to creep its way across onto the stainless and rust the stainless.

I'd use 316 is I didn't have 309.

 

Well I'm not worried about rust, I'm sure I'll switch setups sooner than the manifold rusts through completely lol

 

you should just be making it all from mild then but w/e anything will work then.

 

All I have are stainless weld elbows.

 

purrrrfect.. came out fine.. i just hope it doesnt start rusting... if it does then i'll hopfully have found some 309 by then. its on my exhaust.

 

why are you so set on 309?!

 

cuz its prob textbook

 

i can get 309l right now. i need some my self. please pm me.

 

Well it is the right filler. 308/316 work too just not as perfectly well in a technical sense.

 

i have a 30lb box of 309 unopened... sitting stashed away right now

but to answer your question.....


use 308... or 70s...

if you dont mind the weld getting slightly weathered/rusty, use 70s... but 308 and 309 are almost chemically identical...