Projects Silly welding question: Stainless with a buzz box?

I want to make some stainless tie down/grab rails to mount on the new box I built for my Diamond T pickup. The idea is stainless tubing, about 1" diameter on stainless round stock stand offs. Mounting plates I thought I could just have some slices cut from about 1 1/2" bar. I'm thinking I can weld this up at home with my buzz box Lincoln with stainless rod. Any real welders out there with some feedback? I've got a Lincoln MIG too, but don't really want to buy a spool of stainless wire and another tank.

Brian

 

Either process will work. I love the look of a good stainless stick weld. I have welded pletny of stainless pipe with stick.

 

Thanks, I thought I could, but never hurts to ask! I'll get some s**** to practice on.

 

Mig it. Just getcha a small spool mof wire. Your basic welding gas will do the job but you'll have to wire brush it clean.

 

im not sure if your arc welder will get hot enough to weld that thick or s.s.but i agree i would try it insted of spending the time and money to mig it.

 

LOL, now I have too many choices! I thought small rod would work, as it'll be relatively thin stuff, aside from the round bar for the standoff stem (I guess that's what to call it?). So, my CO2/Argon will work OK if I go that way? Stainless brush, right, so as not contaminate the weld?

 

are you welding dis-simular metals? ie..stainless to carbon steel?
if so use a 309 SS stick..
if you need some lemme know ..

also one word of caution..after welding with a stainless rod, keep your saftey gl***es on!
when the weld cools the slag will pop off and try its damdest to find your unprotected eye

if you go SS mig wire, than no issue on the slag pop

 

Yep. Keep it clean and it'll work just fine. If I were closer, I'd donate some wire.

 

both look good and stainless stick rods do lay a nice looking bead when done right.

 

id rec. a tank of mix for stainless as well if you mig it....

 

i love stick welding stainless, it just all flows out so beautiful if your all setup right, i used to do it alot and used a gold lens, enjoyable

 

If your buzzbox has AC/DC capabilities, go for it, using DC +. (DC reverse polarity). Any good E309, probably 3/32" diameter, will get you there.
If your buzzbox is AC only, forget it.

 

If your material is real thin, mig.
If 1/8 or better, stick weld it.
Mig welding SS is not the cleanest looking weld. (nothing like reg steel)
Stick welding SS is a beautiful thing, you will love it.

 

You can do it either way. I would reccomend a mix gas also with the mig. Also remember that stainless takes alot less heat then carbon (steel) takes to weld it.

 

I've welded stainless with my AC buzz box and it turned out beautiful; however, you'll want to use a 7018/ac rod (yes, it exists). That stuff, like it was mentioned, makes a beautiful weld, and the slag just peels off in strips.

 

you can weld stainless with a MIG and mild steel wire. yes the weld will rust but it will weld just fine. The buzz box will weld it nice too. stainless rods are no harder to use than a low hydrogen rod. I weld cast iron with a stainless stick. you can do it

 

fwiw, you can also weld ss with dual shield flux core 309L wire and it will come out very nice...shooting slag is also a problem. I've welded some very thing (28 ga) stainless with it

 

Update; It worked great.

 

Oops, photos would have been good...