i used to use 308 only for ss->ss welds.. now i am using 316...

i see some differences, mainly in the texture of the finished weld..

308 has a softer look with more shine to it.. 316 is hard looking with a flat finish..

they both get the job done.. but i wanna see what others like to use... if you have a preference, post it! and explain!

 

We use 347 rod for most 304, 316 and 321 weldments. Probably text book wrong, but we haven't seen any weld failures in years since we switched from 308.

 

Text book is 309.

 

309 was designed specifically for joining mild steel to stainless. 347 was designed for welding stabilized stainless grades like 321.
308 is textbook.
I have found that proper technique is most important in all reality.
Any of the rods listed would work, with 347 being a little expensive for regular work. It might get cancelled in the cost of carrying only one rod, so to each their own.

 

I use 309 for just about everything I do with stainless. My welding supply shop spoke dirrectly with two different filler material manufactures before I had them order me 309 (seems wierd but before I came around they had never stocked it). Anyhow, they all said is a great all around all purpose stainless rod, and is also obviously useful for dissimilar metal welding. I get a lot more color and brightness with 309, than I do with others I have tried.

 

308 and 309 have very similar properties.. and i like to use 308 with some mild-> ss welds, since all i have at the shop right now is 3/32 309 rods.. and i have a lot 308 1/16 wire..

i would use 308 more, but i have noticed in the molten puddle these little clouds that look like contaminant.. and i dont like that.. same joint with 316 doesnt have that.. so im not sure if that is normal or what.. maybe its the brand wire i am using.. i'll have to try some other brands of 308, some might be more pure than others.. not sure..

 

kind of a different question, has anyone tried buying welding rod online? im trying to find the cheapest source, if i cant find anything substantialy cheaper than my local supplier i'll just support their business but if i can get a much better deal i'd like to save as much money as possible on consumables.

 

We do not stock any 308 rod, about half of our work is 304l the other being 316l, we weld these two alloys with 316l, when 321 comes in we use 347 rod.

 

cyberweld has okay prices on filler

 

Be sure to inspect your filler boxes/tubes for overseas manufacturing. I just got a 10# tube of 308 in that had faint (like they had tried to almost sand it or wash it off the tube) Asian/chinese characters running up the side of the tube. This was supposedly an American brand of filler metal. Could have been disastrous if I hadn't caught it.

 

bump!