Stainless steel is a metal used in the construction and manufacturing industry. There are many different grades of stainless steel, and the higher the grade, the more expensive it will be.
So before you, weld stainless steel doing your research on which type of wire to use is very important.
Stainless steel has its uses and can be used to make some great-looking fixtures. Stainless steel, commonly referred to as SS, is categorized as a ferrous metal – i.e., iron-based alloys, of which iron is the main component.
Can you weld stainless steel with normal MIG wire? Welding stainless steel with normal MIG wire can be a challenge, but with the proper knowledge and equipment, you can get the job done successfully.
This article will teach you everything you need to know about welding stainless steel with a normal MIG wire.
What is Stainless Steel?
Stainless steel is a type of alloy that contains a minimum of 10.5% chromium. Stainless steel has high resistance to corrosion. Stainless steel is used in a variety of applications, such as cookware, cutlery, and building materials.
Welding stainless steel requires a higher amperage than other types of steel. It is more difficult because you have to maintain a precise arc length and cannot move too quickly.
If you are not careful with the heat input while welding stainless steel, it can crack or melt through the metal
Can You Weld Stainless Steel With Normal MIG Wire?
Yes, you can weld stainless steel with normal MIG wire. You just need to be very careful and use the right precautions. Stainless steel has a lower melting point than regular steel, so you have to adjust your settings when welding it. That means using thinner wire and running at a slower speed than you would for regular steel.
It also means using more shielding gas because stainless is less dense than other types of metal. That means it needs more protection from oxygen, which could cause oxidation during the welding process.
The key thing to remember when welding stainless is that you need to be aware of what’s happening while it’s being heated up and cooled down, as well as throughout the process itself.
I advise that you’ll want to keep an eye on your machine’s temperature settings (if possible) and make sure that you’re using enough shielding gas throughout each step of the process.
Read the full article to know more about welding stainless steel with the help of a normal MIG wire.
Also See: Can You MIG Weld in the Rain or when it’s wet?
In Which Situations do you can Weld Stainless Steel with Normal MIG Wire?
Small Project
Welding stainless steel with normal MIG wire is possible in situations where you do not have any issue with the weld look. You can use this method if you are working on a small project or if you are just learning how to weld stainless steel.
If you are working on a large project, it is best to use a different type of wire that has more shielding gas coverage than normal MIG wire.
This will help prevent the formation of hydrogen gas and reduce the possibility that your welds will crack or burn through. We recommend using ER70S-2 wire for all-around welding applications and ER80S-D2 for high-strength applications.
Do not have any issue with the Weld Look
You can weld stainless steel with normal MIG wire whenever you don’t care about your welds’ looks.
If you want to make a weld that’s strong and durable, but don’t care if it looks good, then you should be using stainless steel with normal MIG wire. Stainless steel is a strong metal that can take a lot of abuse, but it does not have the same aesthetic appeal as other metals.
If you’re working on a project that needs to be durable but doesn’t need to be pretty, then regular MIG wire will work well for you.
Do not have any Weld Rust Issues
You can weld stainless steel with normal MIG wire in any situation where your weld doesn’t need to be strong, and you don’t care if it rusts.
If you’ve got a small job, like repairing a fence or building a decorative shelf, then you can get away with using normal MIG wire on stainless steel.
The strength of your weld won’t matter much because you’re probably not going to have to hold up anything heavy. And if it does rust, then what’s the worst that happens? You have to replace your fence or shelf.
Do not have Cracking & Breaking Issues
If you aren’t concerned with how well your weld holds together after it cools down (e.g., if it’s going to be covered by another part of the object), then a normal MIG wire will work just fine for welding stainless steel since those wires are designed for lower temperatures than the ones used for welding other metals like iron or aluminum.
Not a Safety Preferred Project
When you are simply welding a decorative feature or something that isn’t going to be subject to impact, then you can use a normal MIG wire.
Welding stainless steel requires a bit more care and attention, though, so it’s important to know which types of stainless steel you can weld with normal MIG wire and which ones need special precautions.
Personal Project
Normal MIG wire is fine for making repairs to your car or home. You don’t need to worry about the quality of the metal because it’s yours. You can use whatever you want and not care if the welds look bad or don’t hold up over time.
If you have a project like this, don’t worry about buying special stainless steel welding wire—just use regular MIG wire.
In above mentioned all situations, I recommend you to use a normal MIG wire.
How to Weld Stainless Steel with Normal MIG Wire?
Welding stainless steel with normal MIG wire is a simple process that requires some preparation. The first step is to clean your work area and make sure you have everything you need.
Next, you will need to set up your MIG welder and turn on the gas. It’s important to use a shielding gas when welding stainless steel because it protects the weld puddle from oxygen. You can also use argon-based shielding gas if you want to avoid contamination.
Once you’ve got everything set up and ready, it’s time to start welding! First, grind or remove any rust or paint from the surface of your metal sheet using a wire brush or grinder.
Next, coat your metal with flux if necessary (check with your supplier). Once all surfaces are clean and fluxed, place them together, so they’re flush on both sides—this helps create a good seal for your weld puddle.
Now it’s time to turn on your welder and start feeding in the filler rod as needed until you’ve completed your welds!
Important Things to Consider
The most important thing to consider when welding stainless steel is the shielding gas.
Welding stainless steel requires a specific type of shielding gas called a “right” shielding gas. This is because stainless steel contains a lot of carbon, which is highly reactive to oxygen in the air.
When you weld stainless steel, you mix two different metals together and heat them up to very high temperatures.
This creates a lot of sparks and smoke, so you need to protect yourself from the fumes by using a special type of shielding gas that keeps out all of those harmful fumes.
Try to use three types of gas for the best outcomes:
- Helium(90%)
- Argon(8%)
- Carbon dioxide(2%)
Another option is to use argon mix gas:
- Argon(98%)
- Oxygen(2%)
But I do not recommend to use 75% argon and 25% carbon dioxide, and also do not go for 100% carbon dioxide.
Another important thing to consider is your welder. I suggest you to make sure that your welder has enough power and heat settings for the type of metal you are welding together.
If it doesn’t have enough power or heat settings, then it will not be able to melt through both pieces at once without melting through one piece first before melting through the other one!
That would cause more problems than just having them stick together instead of welding together smoothly without any extra effort on your part!
The last thing to consider is your safety while working on stainless steel with normal MIG wire. You should wear protective gear like a helmet and gloves so that you don’t get hurt in case something goes wrong during the process.
Precautionary Measures to Follow
Welding stainless steel requires a different approach than welding other metals. Stainless steel is generally more difficult to weld due to its tendency to form chromium carbide, which is brittle and will crack if not treated properly.
There are several precautions you should take before welding stainless steel:
| No. | Precautions | Description |
| 1 | Keep Tack Welds Small | Always keep your tack welds as small as possible. This will minimize the amount of chromium carbide that forms in your welds, which can weaken them and make them more likely to crack. |
| 2 | Keep Moving | Keep moving while you’re welding. The heat from the arc is enough to cause the chromium carbide to form, so if you weld for too long in one spot, there’s a higher chance that it’ll crack when it cools down again later on down the line. |
| 3 | Use When Welding Stainless Steel | Use only normal MIG wire when you’re welding stainless steel; DO NOT use flux-cored wire! Flux-cored wires contain iron oxide particles that can create problems when used with stainless steel because iron oxide also contains some chromium carbide (though not as much as plain old iron). |
| 4 | Wear Eye Protection | Always wear eye protection; the sparks that fly off the metal can get into your eyes and cause damage. |
| 5 | Wear Mask | Wear a respirator mask to protect yourself from inhaling any harmful fumes or particles that might be released from the welding process. |
| 6 | Proper Ventilation | Ensure that you are in an area where there is plenty of ventilation so that you don’t breathe any harmful fumes or particles into your lungs. |
Pros & Cons of Weld Stainless Steel with Normal MIG Wire
| No. | Pros | Cons |
| 1 | Easy to weld. | Normal MIG wire has a tendency to burn through at high temperatures, which means that if you’re trying to achieve a quality weld on stainless steel, your machine will need regular maintenance and care (i.e., cleaning). |
| 2 | Normal MIG wire is inexpensive, and the availability of different sizes is great for those who want to weld smaller pieces that are too small for carbon steel welding. | Normal MIG wire has less resistance than other types of welding wire, so it can be difficult to get a good bead when welding stainless steel with normal MIG wire. |
| 3 | Stainless steel can be welded with normal wire, but it does take more time than aluminum because Stainless steel is thicker and harder to heat up, so you have to put more heat into it. | It Requires a high level of skill and practice. |
| 4 | You can use it in all positions, although it’s not ideal for vertical welding. | The welds are usually brittle, so they should be ground after they’re made. |
| 5 | It’s easy to learn, even for a beginner. |
Final Words!
Can you weld stainless steel with normal MIG wire? In short, dealing with a stainless steel weld with normal MIG wire is not rocket science. Knowledge and preparation are key to success.
So, before you start welding your own stainless steel project, think about the tips above and follow them to the best of your ability. The experience will likely be far more successful for you than it would be if you don’t!
But remember one thing you can only weld stainless steel with a normal MIG wire in small or non-considerable projects, not for serious and worth taking projects.
FAQs:
Can you use regular wire to weld stainless steel?
You cannot use regular wire to weld stainless steel unless you are using a tungsten electrode or stainless steel wire for better results. Otherwise, your wire will simply melt down into a glob of metal that will not stick to the material you are attempting to weld and will just create a mess.
Do you need special wire to MIG weld stainless steel?
The short answer is yes. Although some MIG welders are designed to accommodate welding of stainless steel, they will usually only do so if you install a special wire in addition to the other consumables within your setup. The reason why is simple – the higher thermal mass of most types of stainless steel translates into greater electrical resistance, which is a problem during the welding process.
Can you weld stainless with a regular MIG welder?
Yes, you can. But it is not the easiest or quickest way to weld stainless. For small projects like a table or decorative bracket, it is probably fine. However, if you plan on welding large projects like frames and large panels, it is not recommended because of the difficulty in achieving a perfect joint.
What kind of MIG wire do you use for stainless steel?
There are many different types of MIG wire, and the one you choose will depend on your project requirements, but for most stainless steel welding applications, we recommend using a 300 series wire like 309 and 316.
