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How to weld stainless steel?

If you are here, it means you need our help to weld stainless steel. For manufacturing a griddle for your barbecue as summer approaches, perhaps?

With our tips, you will become a welding expert!

⚙️ Can You Weld Stainless Steel?

Stainless steel is one of the most resistant materials, yet highly malleable, for creating a backsplash for your kitchen. Its characteristics make it the perfect element for plumbing, industrial production, decoration, DIY, and also for sanitary applications such as toilet bowls; in that case, 304L would be used for adequate hygiene.

The material is also used in food preparation for griddle cooking. So, can you weld stainless steel? The answer is "yes", provided the welding properties of stainless steel are respected.

⚙️ Prepare Yourself for Welding Stainless Steel!

Start by Cleaning the Stainless Steel Surface!

Using a metal brush and gloves, clean the metal. The pieces to be assembled must be properly cleaned to avoid any problems during welding.

Use Protective Gear for Welding!

Welding stainless steel in particular is a process that can have risks. That's why it is essential to use proper protective equipment to weld safely. You must obtain the appropriate PPE and have an experienced person (a reminder of the dangers of welding would be a plus)

If the Steel is Too Thick, Straighten Your Stainless Steel Sheet!

To weld thick stainless steel sheets, preheat the sheets. This process is called "straightening". The metal sheets will become much more malleable, allowing you to weld with ease.

The 4 Types of Welding for Stainless Steel

How to Weld Stainless Steel with TIG?

TIG Welding

The most common process for welding two pieces of stainless steel is TIG welding, or "Tungsten Inert Gas". It is an electric arc welding technique produced by an electrode (a battery) protected by a gas and/or a gas mixture like argon and helium. The temperature caused by this electrical passage creates a fusion to join the two pieces.

It is a manual welding technique very well suited for stainless steel. It allows for a very strong weld and is more practical for delicate areas. But the torch gives it the ability to easily access angles and places difficultly reachable by MMA stick welding, which we will explain later.

The equipment needed is a TIG welding station and 304L stainless steel rods for 304 or 304L sheets, or 306L rods for 306 or 316L stainless steel.

In Practice:

The optimal angle between your sheet and your torch is 75°/80°. Also, maintain a distance of about 2-3 cm between the tip of the torch and the area to be welded. Accordingly, adjust the amperage based on the torch's power. If you find the metal is a bit too fluid, decrease the amperage; otherwise, increase it.

When you finish welding, let the torch and the stainless steel cool down before handling the equipment. If you have a sanding machine, you can make the joint look nicer to see your beautiful reflection inside!

How to Weld Stainless Steel with MIG?

MIG Welding

MIG welding, or "Metal Inert Gas" or "GMAW", is a welding process used for welding thick stainless steel pieces. It costs much less than TIG welding but won't yield the same clean and delicate finish.

The technique and elements used are the same as TIG welding, but the advantage is that everything is done with one hand because the rod is contained within the torch itself. However, you need to stock up on stainless steel wire and argon gas accordingly.

In Practice:

The best way to weld with MIG welding is to hold the torch between 30 and 40 degrees. Avoid sudden movements with the torch to let the stainless steel melt; control the sensitivity of your movement. The slower it is, the faster the stainless steel will melt.

At the end of welding, turn off the gas, then let the torch and stainless steel cool down before handling them. MIG welding leaves a lot of residue on the surface; feel free to use a metal brush to remove the excess flux.

How to Weld Stainless Steel with MIG?

MMA Stick Welding

MMA stick welding or shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), is a good welding process, especially for stainless steel sheets between 1 and 10 millimeters thick.

It is a very simple process to use, based on a short circuit produced by a power supply in contact with the electrode. The current produces intense heat reaching thousands of degrees, which will allow the joining of the two stainless steel pieces.

In Practice:

Above all, the sheets must be clamped together using a metal clamp to prevent them from moving during welding. Then, the sheets must be connected using a ground clamp.

To avoid any risk, your machine must be properly configured for a perfect weld. If you are unfamiliar with the equipment, read the user manual carefully. The electrode cable must be connected to the positive (+) terminal, and the negative (-) terminal must be connected to the ground clamp.

As soon as you feel ready, it's time to weld. The inclination of the electrode depends on your type of welding. But the method is always the same: as soon as you see the electric arc, maintain the same distance from the area you are welding.

However, feel free to test and practice on other sheets (if you have any).

SAW Welding or Submerged Arc Welding

It is a process that requires a bit more budget but is also used to weld stainless steel. SAW welding is also based on an electric arc, however, the process is automatic. During welding, the arc is automatically submerged in a granular mixture to prevent contamination of the molten metal; that's why it is called submerged arc welding.

SAW welding is widely used in the manufacture of large pieces. For example, long stainless steel pipes with a large circumference. However, to use this process, if you are not authorized to use such equipment, you cannot have this machine at your home; it could prove much too dangerous.

⚙️ The Right Welding Technique

The most appropriate technique for welding stainless steel is a "T" joint, overlapping the ends of your pieces. If you are building a barbecue with a griddle, here is a visual example to illustrate this technique if you are making your own barbecue:

From now on, you have all our advice for welding stainless steel!

Get welding!

Posted in: How to Make a Stainless Steel Sheet Shine? ✨

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By: Marion On 2024-08-31

Il n'est pas précisé que la soudure TIG en ac n'est pas possible pour l'inox, il faut un poste DC. Mais au MiG, c'est pareil? Et en mode hf pulsé au TIG, possible de souder l'inox?

Replied by: John Steel On 2024-09-02 Bonjour Marion,

Effectivement, vous avez raison sur certains points. Pour souder l'inox en TIG, il est essentiel d'utiliser un poste en courant continu (DC) et non en courant alternatif (AC), qui est plutôt destiné à l'aluminium. Concernant le MIG, même si en théorie il est possible d'utiliser les deux types de courant, en pratique, on utilise aussi principalement le courant continu pour l'inox pour un meilleur contrôle et une meilleure qualité de soudure.

Enfin, le mode pulsé en HF pour le TIG est non seulement possible mais aussi recommandé pour l'inox, car il permet de mieux gérer la chaleur et d'obtenir une soudure plus propre et précise.

Merci pour vos observations, elles sont très pertinentes !