This is a question for the welders among us. I've got my mig welder and I've welded alot of mild steel/structural, etc. Never got an arc on stainless.... so my question is, can I use my setup for mild steel w/ argon or do I need to change the wire and gas? Probably a stupid question... thanks in advance.

Tony

 

Yes. You need stainless mig wire and you need a bottle of helium/argon/CO2 mix (88%/10%/2%). Your local welding supply distributor can hook you up.

 

You can stay with the 92% argon & 8% CO2, you need ER308 wire if your welding

304sst to 304sst ( or like sst material ). If you weld sst to mild steel use 309 wire.

 

I have welded SS with the normal 75/25 mix and regular wire with no problem. Would I do this with something structural??? heck no, but I have done it with little brackets, etc and haven't had any problem yet. Try it, you might like it ....

No I am not a certified welder, but built alot of stuff for my 4X4 toys and haven't had any welds fracture yet, also have had a professional welder cut open and inspect my some of welds just to add some comfort to my madness...

SO text book says no, but I have done it quite a few times. I wouldn't have a second thought of fabbing up an exhaust system with the current "mild-steel" set-up.

 

stainless mig wire, helium/argon/CO2 mix (88%/10%/2%) And back flood.

 

309 wire....w/ Norco norgas #4....helium,argon CO2 mixture

 

you can weld it with your mild steel set up but it WILL rust where you weld