Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

hi all I'm just wondering which is the safest way/method for welding stainless steel for a reflux still ?? can I just use a normal mig welder with normal wire and gas ??

Sure you can, just dont go too hot with it..... TIG is the choice of most who like exposed welds and neat appearance ;-)

As Mac said, TIG is the ducks nuts for staino welding. Especially the thin stuff.

MIG is awesome. Use argon so it don't corrode.

I used ARC. Worked well too. Bit more grinding for a neat finish though. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

EDIT: normal mig wire (mild steel) will promote the loss of the staino properties too I would think. :think:

Tig, mig, or mma using S/S rods, all will give a nice finished weld if you are proficient. What do you have at hand ? can you weld? I use s/s rods I purchased off fleabay to weld my kegs. Do not weld S/S with ordinary mig wire, it will weld on s/s but you will loose the physical properties of s/s and it will rust...mind you s/s welded correctly once pacified also rusts once but you can not see it. Hope this helps rather than confuse you.

J

thanks everyone for the helpful input much appreciated, not confusing at all jayD cheers, there's a mig welder and stick welder at me work iv got a mate there that's a good welder, so I might just get some s/s rods for the stick rather then buying a whole new roll of wire for the mig

Stick welder will do a good job mate. Just get him to pickle the welds afterwards with acetone on a rag.

:handgestures-thumbupleft:

with the rods , use the thinner rods ,,, less than 3mm ,,, less chance of blowing ... though im not a boiler , just what my boiler was saying to me

Linny wrote:with the rods , use the thinner rods ,,, less than 3mm ,,, less chance of blowing ... though im not a boiler , just what my boiler was saying to me

good advice Linny, 2mm are the size I use.. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

yeah no worries thanx again fellas

Has anybody tried welding s/steel with a DC stick welder , they seem to have less spatter i think. :think:

1 2many wrote:Has anybody tried welding s/steel with a DC stick welder , they seem to have less spatter i think. :think:

Yep dc stick probley the best

1 2many wrote:Has anybody tried welding s/steel with a DC stick welder , they seem to have less spatter i think. :think:

you generally use what you have at hand...if you have a dc welder give it go and see how it turns out... :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Yeah might have bit of a play tomorow, Also is pacifying the same as pickling.

Thanks fellas :handgestures-thumbupleft:

1 2many wrote:Yeah might have bit of a play tomorow, Also is pacifying the same as pickling.

Thanks fellas :handgestures-thumbupleft:

a little read that well worth the time for the insight it gives 3mins max... straight from the horses mouth

JayD wrote:

1 2many wrote:Yeah might have bit of a play tomorow, Also is pacifying the same as pickling.

Thanks fellas :handgestures-thumbupleft:

a little read that well worth the time for the insight it gives 3mins max... straight from the horses mouth

Thanks mate , started reading got halfway through and suffered memory loss :teasing-tease:

Will try again tomorrow . :)) :))

JayD wrote:Tig, mig, or mma using S/S rods, all will give a nice finished weld if you are proficient. What do you have at hand ? can you weld? I use s/s rods I purchased off fleabay to weld my kegs. Do not weld S/S with ordinary mig wire, it will weld on s/s but you will loose the physical properties of s/s and it will rust...mind you s/s welded correctly once pacified also rusts once but you can not see it. Hope this helps rather than confuse you.

J

Hey Jay what grade stainless rods did you get off fleabay I'm gunna attempt arc welding ferrules on soon. Thanks

I think you will find most rods are 316

an easy way to pickle or pacify your staino welds is to give a good wire brush, with a new staino brush, and then put some citric acid on them :handgestures-thumbupleft:

ticknaylor wrote:

JayD wrote:Tig, mig, or mma using S/S rods, all will give a nice finished weld if you are proficient. What do you have at hand ? can you weld? I use s/s rods I purchased off fleabay to weld my kegs. Do not weld S/S with ordinary mig wire, it will weld on s/s but you will loose the physical properties of s/s and it will rust...mind you s/s welded correctly once pacified also rusts once but you can not see it. Hope this helps rather than confuse you.

J

Hey Jay what grade stainless rods did you get off fleabay I'm gunna attempt arc welding ferrules on soon. Thanks

Here is what I use, 2.00mm rods.

Thanks mate so their 316L rods I noticed quite a few different types of stainless rods like 308L, 308H, 318L,309MO-17 wasn't sure what to use on a keg anyway cheers ill get some 316L electrodes