Welding Stainless?

[Matt Pascoe]

Mostly just out of curiosity, what is the correct method of MIG welding stainless?

I was in a pinch and needed to repair a broken stainless mirror bracket and was pleasantly surprised that my MIG with steel wire did a beautiful job welding it. It's just that the weld has now rusted. Do they make Stainless wire spools?

[Joe Dillard]

Yep, SS wire is available.

http://www.toolking.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=4316

Plus, you may want to check out this link too.

http://www.lincolnelectric.com/knowl.../migweldss.asp

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by Matt Pascoe
Mostly just out of curiosity, what is the correct method of MIG welding stainless?

I was in a pinch and needed to repair a broken stainless mirror bracket and was pleasantly surprised that my MIG with steel wire did a beautiful job welding it. It's just that the weld has now rusted. Do they make Stainless wire spools?

I'm 99% sure I have a small roll of s/s .023 here somewhere if you want to give it a try.

The only reason you need Stainless wire is so it won't rust instantly, it will still rust though unless you electropolish it.

[Matt Pascoe]

Thanks guys

Blaine, That is exactly why I wondered about stainless rod. So even with stainless rod you still need to have the finished part plated? I'm thinking about boat stanchions specifically.

I spent some time at a shop that built custom aluminum tuna towers. After they welded the tubes they used, what looked like, a paint pen to clean up the welds.

Not so easy with stainless?