This is the reverse of the question that usually gets asked. Can I MIG weld
mild steel using a set-up for stainless? I have a Lincoln 175+, running
308L or 309L wire with helium tri-mix gas. I don't do enough welding to
have the wire cost get prohibitive, so if I don't have to switch gas and
wire that will save me some time.

Thanks,

George

In article 1ICAe.8399$Eo.5813@fed1read04, "gglines"
wrote:

This is the reverse of the question that usually gets asked. Can I MIG weld
mild steel using a set-up for stainless? I have a Lincoln 175+, running
308L or 309L wire with helium tri-mix gas. I don't do enough welding to
have the wire cost get prohibitive, so if I don't have to switch gas and
wire that will save me some time.

Thanks,

George

Yes you can weld steel with stainless filler, but...
The welds will not be as ductile as steel would be.
The edges of the welds will corrode faster unless they are painted.

--
"I love deadlines, especially the wooshing sound they make as
they fly by" - Douglas Adams

"gglines" wrote in message
news:1ICAe.8399$Eo.5813@fed1read04...
This is the reverse of the question that usually gets asked. Can I MIG
weld
mild steel using a set-up for stainless? I have a Lincoln 175+, running
308L or 309L wire with helium tri-mix gas. I don't do enough welding to
have the wire cost get prohibitive, so if I don't have to switch gas and
wire that will save me some time.

Thanks,

George


Wire is relatively cheap and has a virtually infinite shelf-life, so long as
it stays dry. You can use the gas you have, but it will tend to make for a
hotter arc and you need to run at a somewhat lower current setting than you
would for the more common argon/CO2 mix used for MIG.

Jerry

Thanks Ernie & Jerry!


"gglines" wrote in message
news:1ICAe.8399$Eo.5813@fed1read04...
This is the reverse of the question that usually gets asked. Can I MIG
weld mild steel using a set-up for stainless? I have a Lincoln 175+,
running 308L or 309L wire with helium tri-mix gas. I don't do enough
welding to have the wire cost get prohibitive, so if I don't have to
switch gas and wire that will save me some time.

Thanks,

George