I have a 30 or so pound roll of stainless MIG wire,
Harris ER309L. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but
is this stuff any good for welding things that are
not stainless? Could this, for example, be used to weld
"regular" steel, non-critical stuff like angle iron, etc?

I'm not talking structrual work here, just simple general
home shop stuff. I am not likely to need to do any extesive
SS welding, so this is just taking up space. If I can use it
for more generic welding, then I likely have a lifetime supply,
maybe two.

I suggest you try it and see.

I and a couple people I know often use stainless filler rod when TIG
welding "plain" steel, tool steel and chromo. And I am talking
structural stuff, like injection molds and 4130 racecar frames

I keep 316L in my MIG because that is what I am welding 99% of the time. If
I just need to slap a couple of mild steel pieces together and to lazy to
change wire I will use the 316. It works well enough. The color is a
little weird but the weld is strong enough. If I were doing something
really critical or that might be subject to a lot of vibration I would use
the proper wire.

--
Glenn Ashmore

I'm building a 45' cutter in strip/composite. Watch my progress (or lack
there of) at: http://www.rutuonline.com
Shameless Commercial Division: http://www.spade-anchor-us.com

"Al A." wrote in message
...
I have a 30 or so pound roll of stainless MIG wire,
Harris ER309L. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but
is this stuff any good for welding things that are
not stainless? Could this, for example, be used to weld
"regular" steel, non-critical stuff like angle iron, etc?

I'm not talking structrual work here, just simple general
home shop stuff. I am not likely to need to do any extesive
SS welding, so this is just taking up space. If I can use it
for more generic welding, then I likely have a lifetime supply,
maybe two.

I believe that the high nickel content of the stainless may let you weld
cast iron with it. It's certainly worth a try.

Al A. wrote:
I have a 30 or so pound roll of stainless MIG wire,
Harris ER309L. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but
is this stuff any good for welding things that are
not stainless? Could this, for example, be used to weld
"regular" steel, non-critical stuff like angle iron, etc?

I would try taking your 30 lb roll to some welding shops and see if you
can trade it in for two 30 lb rolls of regular steel. Both you and the
welding shop would come out ahead.

Dan

In article ,
says...
I have a 30 or so pound roll of stainless MIG wire,
Harris ER309L. Forgive me if this is a dumb question, but
is this stuff any good for welding things that are
not stainless? Could this, for example, be used to weld
"regular" steel, non-critical stuff like angle iron, etc?

I'm not talking structrual work here, just simple general
home shop stuff. I am not likely to need to do any extesive
SS welding, so this is just taking up space. If I can use it
for more generic welding, then I likely have a lifetime supply,
maybe two.

309 is often recommended for joining SS to steel, and for joining other
dissimilar metals. It'll work well on mild steel and low alloy steel.

If I'm not mistaken, the "ER" designates TIG wire. Could the spools have
been intended for an automated TIG system?

Ned Simmons

Ned Simmons wrote:
In article ,
says...


309 is often recommended for joining SS to steel, and for joining other
dissimilar metals. It'll work well on mild steel and low alloy steel.

If I'm not mistaken, the "ER" designates TIG wire. Could the spools have
been intended for an automated TIG system?

Ned Simmons




thanks to all who replied. I do intend to just give it a try as one of
you suggested. I'm just waiting for better weather, I do all of my
welding outside generally, and it is still cold and raining/snowing or
whatever here (NE Mass).

Ned, I have no idea if this was actually TIG wire. I got the welder
from a place I used to work, it was given to me when the place closed
down, and the wire came with it. There was a spool of some more generic
copper coated steel wire (can't recall the spec right now) in the
machine, and 2 full spools and 1 partial spool of the 309 stainless
wire. I recall being told that the stainless stuff was bought for some
stainless welding done for a particular job. When that job ended, the
wire was put aside and never used again. But I have no idea who bought
them or from where, so I COULD be TIG wire.

It would probably be smartest of me to trade or sell it for something
more useful to me. I don't see myself ever going through that much MIG wire.

Al A.