Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes 1/16

pburchett · Jul 3, 2012

I am looking for an online source for a pound of 1/16 stainless steel welding electrodes (308-L) if anyone can help.

I intend to weld the lid on a very thin 12 quart stainless stock pot with the old Lincoln buzz box at 40 amps which is the lowest setting. Ok, so obviously welding is not my occupation :shock: and this does not have to be pretty, it just has to be….so will it work or do I need to look for another option? I do have some silver bearing solder and a propane torch handy but I do not know if that would work. Any suggestions?

S.Crum · Jul 3, 2012

Your best option would be to find somebody that can TIG weld this for you. I've repaired the handles on many Revere ware pots and pans, Farber ware, commercial kitchen ware and milker parts. When done right, the piece is every bit as sanitary as when it was new.

jon f mn · Jul 3, 2012

What is a stock pot? And where do you live? Northern Handyman has a lot of weld rod. If you aren't worried about rust you can weld stainles with regular steel rod, but then it can rust at the weld. You can also solder it or braise it. Braise will not rust also but will be colored of course.

Anonymous-0 · Jul 3, 2012

Why not just take it to a shop and have it TIG
welded? If you want to drink or eat from it you
probably need 316 stainless. If it's real thin
you'll probably just burn holes in it. A good TIG
welder can weld pop cans together. A really good TIG
welder can weld tin foil.

jon f mn · Jul 3, 2012

Thats why I asked where he lived. I would weld it for him if he lived close or wanted to send it.

S.Crum · Jul 3, 2012

It would appear that you offered AFTER I commented. Sorry I commented.

jon f mn · Jul 3, 2012

I didn't mean for that to sound bad, was just offering to help.

pburchett · Jul 3, 2012

(quoted from post at 16:37:06 07/03/12) Thats why I asked where he lived. I would weld it for him if he lived close or wanted to send it.

Thanks for the offer to weld it for me. I appreciate that.
I live in south central Ky. In the small town of Monticello.
I have several things to weld up that are thin stainless and just a small project I am working on with the kids and want to do it ourselves. Rust will not be allowed so I will try to solder it if we cannot come up with some 1/16 stainless rods. .

pburchett · Jul 3, 2012

(quoted from post at 16:35:36 07/03/12) What is a stock pot? quote]

OH! This is a stock pot.

http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/35-quart-Stainless-Steel-Stock-Pot/2999436/product.html?cid=202290&kid=9553000357392&track=pspla&kw={keyword}&adtype=pla

jon f mn · Jul 3, 2012

Ok, I see what you are doing now. Done many similar projects over the years. If you want any advice don't hesitate to ask, was a welder for 20 years before becoming a truck driver and welded many of gramma's frypans. My e-mail is open.

60 acre hillside · Jul 3, 2012

I do not think ordinary Lead/tin solder will stick to stainless. Bronze will

pburchett · Jul 3, 2012

So do I accurately gather that the 1/16 rod at 40 amps on the Lincoln buzz box will not work due to the very thin metal on the stock pot?

What thickness or material would these rods work with?

Anonymous-0 · Jul 3, 2012

mcmastercarrdotcom has them.

areo

jon f mn · Jul 3, 2012

here is a link that talks about soldering stainless. You will have a very hard time welding that with your welder. Stainless is harder to weld than steel anyway, and thats pretty thin. I think this link addresses exactly what you are after.
Untitled URL Link

jon f mn · Jul 3, 2012

I would think that you would have a hard time welding much less than about 1/8 inch. If you told me more about what you hope to accomplish I could help more.

Tony S. · Jul 3, 2012

If stainless isn"t welded right it will lose its stainless properties. If it"s black after you weld it, it"s ruined.

jon f mn · Jul 4, 2012

Thought about your problem a bit last night and had some ideas. The easiest way to attach that lid with your equipment would be to drill a series of hole around the flange and spot weld it. Your welder with those small rods would do that fairly well. You could then seal it several ways depending on what you are doing. You could solder it, or use silicone or wax, or auto parts stores sell a rubberized paint for sealing gas tanks that would probably work. If you need a welded seal then what I would do is grind or trim down the lid lip so it is just larger than the pot. That will give you a lap weld that will be much easier to work with than an edge weld and should be within the capabilities of your welder. When you do that you will have to weld in short welds randomly around the lid to prevent heat buildup and warping. You could also take the entire lip off the lid so you could weld around the inside the pot. That would give you the strongest and easiest to weld solution. If you want it sealed don't forget to put your fittings on first so the pot can vent while you weld it or you won't get a seal and if you do the pot will collapse as it cools.

pburchett · Jul 4, 2012

(quoted from post at 07:21:33 07/04/12) Thought about your problem a bit last night and had some ideas. The easiest way to attach that lid with your equipment would be to drill a series of hole around the flange and spot weld it. Your welder with those small rods would do that fairly well. You could then seal it several ways depending on what you are doing. You could solder it, or use silicone or wax, or auto parts stores sell a rubberized paint for sealing gas tanks that would probably work. If you need a welded seal then what I would do is grind or trim down the lid lip so it is just larger than the pot. That will give you a lap weld that will be much easier to work with than an edge weld and should be within the capabilities of your welder. When you do that you will have to weld in short welds randomly around the lid to prevent heat buildup and warping. You could also take the entire lip off the lid so you could weld around the inside the pot. That would give you the strongest and easiest to weld solution. If you want it sealed don't forget to put your fittings on first so the pot can vent while you weld it or you won't get a seal and if you do the pot will collapse as it cools.

I like that solution. I will give it a try. I also found some 1/16 stainless rods today, just have to go pick them up. Thanks for your help.

pburchett · Jul 6, 2012

HEY jon f mn, thanks for your help with the welding tips. I got the 1/16 rods and prepared all I needed to do to the stock pot and started to weld it up. MAJOR FAIL ON MY PART. I could not do it. Ruined the pot, all the copper plumbing and burnt up a bunch of those little rods. I guess it had a lot to do with the thickness of 0.5mm or a 26 gauge and my lack of experience. We did come up with a bolt on alternative for the next stock pot. Thanks again.

jon f mn · Jul 6, 2012

Oops, didn't think it would be that thin. I was thinking maybe 16-18 gage. Thats to bad. Hope it works next time.

Stainless Steel Welding Electrodes 1/16

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