Minimum gauge for warp free welding?

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 19th, 2015, 3:41 pm

I need some advice. I ran into a major hurdle (for me) with my build. I got all the stainless sheet goods for free and it was all .043 (18-19 gauge). I have enough to do the inside and outside of my smokers but doing the first interior I had a hell of a time welding w/o major warping and burn thrus. I talked to my metal guy and asked about 1/8" cold rolled. He doesn't weld so I thought you guys could help. Is 1/8" thick enough to get long welds w/o the warping? Maybe even thinner to keep the weight down? I really need to get back to this as it's been 2 years and I really want to finish them.

The original thread is here:
http://www.smokerbuilder.com/forums/vie ... =17&t=3031

Puff · Post by **Puff** » April 19th, 2015, 8:41 pm

Hi Pete,

Not the answer your looking for but when I did a few 5ft welds, the first one looked like a banana. TQ advised doing segments and then filling in between the segments. Took me a while but it did work. And that stuff was 1/8".

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 20th, 2015, 5:17 am

Good to know, thanks. I did that with this stuff but still got warping. So, if 1/8" will work, any ideas on something thinner?

Renegade45 · Post by **Renegade45** » April 20th, 2015, 9:30 am

have you tried stitch welding it ??
not as neat as a consitant bead but welding that thin a guage heat is never goign to be your friend.

also using 1/8" over 19 guage you're going to triple your weight per square foot nearly.

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 20th, 2015, 2:41 pm

Did the stitch welding, not that my welding skills are that great, but had issues.

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 21st, 2015, 5:25 am

Anyone else? I'd really like to keep the weight down but if 1/8" is the minimum then I'll go that route.

The Czar · Post by **The Czar** » April 21st, 2015, 8:46 pm

Stitch welding is really the only way to go and burning too hot from what I have watched makes it warp real fast… But Frank would be a good one to ask on this…

Renegade45 · Post by **Renegade45** » April 22nd, 2015, 3:06 am

What welder are you using by the way ??

what wire ? and what have you got it set on ??

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 22nd, 2015, 4:52 am

Miller 175 welder using 75/25 mix and .030 SS wire. I tried thinner wire and as many combos of feed speed and voltage. I even had a more experienced welder try it out and he was having problems as well. I've come to find out that not many folks have ever welded stainless. If I remember correctly it's 400 series stainless. The only wire I could find was 300 series, if it makes a difference. I also have a roll of regular steel wire but haven't tried it.

I read about changing the gas to 95/5 or tri mix but can't find it around here, at least for the amount I need.

Renegade45 · Post by **Renegade45** » April 22nd, 2015, 10:16 am

I completely missed the stainless part !!

Thus lies youre problem. Stainless is a B*tch to weld from what i remember. i havent welded anything stainless since my days as an apprentice but if memory serves because its not pure Steel and its got Chromium and Nickle in their it has a much higher coefficent of expansion. like almost double.

Only ways to weld it is with speed or you're goign to have to be rediculously parient stitch welding.

doing a bit of research on this myself i also came across a wire guide, if youre steel is 400* most likely 410 then youre going to need 410/309L wire.

hope this helps

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 22nd, 2015, 3:59 pm

That explains a lot, Thanks!

I'll look for some 400 wire. I think I'll go to my metal guy and get some small pieces of 14 gauge sheet and give those a try.

Renegade45 · Post by **Renegade45** » April 24th, 2015, 3:08 am

Try and see if you can get hold of some 97.5/2.5 gas as well if you want to continue trying to weld Stainless.

Worst comes to worse youve got a cr*p load of shinny metal for decrotive trimming pieces once you polish it up

Every cloud has a stainless lining ??

Post by **Pete Mazz** » April 24th, 2015, 7:06 am

No one around here has that mix, at least in the sized tank that I have. Couldn't even lease one.

I think I'm going to line the inside with steel and just use the stainless for the outer skin. I had better luck welding to the 1/8" square tubing that I used for the frames and all of the outer skins just get welded to the frames. I'll offer some of the leftover stainless to my metal supplier in exchange for a break in the price.

Thanks!

Post by **Rodcrafter** » April 25th, 2015, 9:45 am

There you go, that's thinking.

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