Welding Tips and Tricks

Stick welding SS the basics.

Is that a question?

I'll assume it is. MMA/SMAW stainless is a strange animal. There's a very narrow temperature range where it's "plastic" and does what you want it to do. It likes to turn to water and drip out of your puddle in any position other than flat.

You will have to keep a tight arc at first, until heat builds, then you'll gradually increase your arc length to reduce your heat input as you try to move faster.

Practice, practice, practice.

Steve S

Steve,
I think he was making a suggestion for a video, hence it being in the wish list thread.

Good explanation of it's behavior though.

Len

Good point.

Sometimes I forget which sub-forum I'm reading when I reply.

Steve S

Just meant this as a vid idea. We don't do a lot of SS smaw but sometimes you get in a spot it's the best option. They got away from using it real regular here because of the concerns about hexavelent chromium put off from the rod.

A half-face respirator with P100 particulate cartridges is sufficient for hex-chrome, according to our safety department.

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:Is that a question?

I'll assume it is. MMA/SMAW stainless is a strange animal. There's a very narrow temperature range where it's "plastic" and does what you want it to do. It likes to turn to water and drip out of your puddle in any position other than flat.

You will have to keep a tight arc at first, until heat builds, then you'll gradually increase your arc length to reduce your heat input as you try to move faster.

Practice, practice, practice.

Steve S

Longer arc length increases heat. More voltage.

Jody has made a visdeo on SS stick welding, which includes some tips on working out amperage based on the colour the electrode glows

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZmLbwN2AkYg

Mick

Thanks Mick. I hadn't seen that video, must have been made before I subscribed, good stuff as always.

Len

Len, that must have been made directly to the you-tube channel. It's quite recent, as he's using the 350MP and his shirt has the new "go knock it out" logo, rather than the "weldmonger".

I don't recall it coming in my subscription.

Steve S

No problem.

Sent from my ZTE T83 using Tapatalk

I just purchased some stainless rods do not know how use them , also so ready to buy another welder what do you think PIpepro 304 or Trailblazer 302 , the pro has over 3500 hours and trail less than 500

Apollo1 wrote:I just purchased some stainless rods do not know how use them , also so ready to buy another welder what do you think PIpepro 304 or Trailblazer 302 , the pro has over 3500 hours and trail less than 500

Welcome aboard.

Did you watch the video weldin mike 27 posted a link to?

Things I learned from my last few SS rod sessions. Very clean SS sch 40 and thicker is fairly easy to get a nice bead on. You need a few less amps than you would use for 7018 on steel. The rod runs watery and the slag forms so fast it takes some time to get a feel for what the puddle is doing. It does not like down hill the slag wants to get under or in front of your bead (whatever will look uglier). Watching the vid is important Jamie was on the money espesially when he mentioned that the rod will weld much diferent as it heats up.