304 welding

[Kevin W]

What do yall think about welding stainless with a lincon 125 plus. 1/4 inch by 2 1/2" flat - no gas, flux core?
Also we' re using the gun that comes with the machine. What-cha -think??

[Scary Mc]

Shouldn't be a problem. You'll have to do at least two passes so just be sure to clean the slag off between them.

Edit: I missed the stainless part.... Be sure to use stainless wire!

[mike-hr]

Loaded question. By definition, 'welded' means as strong or better than the parent parts. Are you hoping that less than that will be okay? I'd like to give myself a lobotmy from time to time, do you think a couple beers and a 110 buck knife would work?

[Kevin W]

Yea , MC Just feeling around last night b-4 buying the stainless wire today. I've actually had sucess welding stainless with mild mig wire, of course it rusts and isn't as strong as it could have been -- DEfinately not the kind of thing I'd do for a customer , but arround the shop, well.

Mike, piont well taken. The 125 is only rated for 6 or 7 gauge single pass, but I've been using this machine for a long time and we understand eachother, the machine and I. The little gantry crain I built to move the 50# Little Giant was welded up with this machine - My material rack - my lay out table... I love my little machine ( and would trade it in for a bigger one in a heartbeat ).

The material size is in this case determined by form, not function, strictly aesthetic, it is (1/4' x 2 1/2") certianly overkill structurally.

Really I guess I was asking about the differience between welding carbon and stainless as far as amperage goes. Perhaps my original post was a bit nebulous.

"lobotmy... do you think a couple beers and a 110 buck knife would work? " Maby, you'd think the drill press would be the best choice, but, the handle always slips away at the moment if contact"

[jeremy k]

.
The Stainless will need more amperage comparatively than mild steel. You may find the limit to your machine quick.

[Frosty]

Have a stick welder? A 125 fluxcore wire feed is pretty light to be welding 1/4" 304 without a lot of messing about. I've done too heavy welds with my Hobart 120 Handler but not with fluxcore, I run 75/25 so multiple passes without a lot of chipping are just burn it in till it's full.

Frosty The Lucky.

[Ten Hammers]

Fluxcore with a shielding gas, grind the root till clean and top passes. 1/8 proud on the weld. Jeremys point is well taken as are Frostys. The rack on my 63 was built with a Lincoln 100 weld pac and fluxcore and no gas. Single pass (mild steel tubing). Stainless will make a difference yes. Stick would be quick.