Notices
Garage & Workshop Tips & Ideas for the garage or workshop. No Truck Tech Discussion   

MIG Welding Stainless

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Nov 4, 2005 | 09:03 PM
  #1  
f150_514ci's Avatar
f150_514ci
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
MIG Welding Stainless

Do anybody know if Lowe's or Home Depot sells stainless MIG wire? And if so what type should I get? I have a Miller 210 mig welder and it mentions 3 different types of wire that you can use. I'm only looking to get a 2lb. roll.
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2005 | 06:37 AM
  #2  
bob arrington's Avatar
bob arrington
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 0
From: alaska
get .035 thousanths and use pure argon for your shielding gas . if you havent run a mig that often , get some mild steel scraps , copper wire and practice.you dont want to ruin a stainless piece due to slopy welding, bob
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2005 | 03:01 PM
  #3  
f150_514ci's Avatar
f150_514ci
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bob arrington
get .035 thousanths and use pure argon for your shielding gas . if you havent run a mig that often , get some mild steel scraps , copper wire and practice.you dont want to ruin a stainless piece due to slopy welding, bob
not really what i was asking
 
Reply
Old Nov 5, 2005 | 04:28 PM
  #4  
cficare's Avatar
cficare
Logistics Pro
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 3,529
Likes: 390
From: SEVA
How would you put a 2# roll of wire on a Miller 210? Are you using a spool-gun?
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 10:30 AM
  #5  
SSCX2's Avatar
SSCX2
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 304
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Originally Posted by f150_514ci
Do anybody know if Lowe's or Home Depot sells stainless MIG wire? And if so what type should I get? I have a Miller 210 mig welder and it mentions 3 different types of wire that you can use. I'm only looking to get a 2lb. roll.
Just read the lable most mig wire will weld stainless steel.

As far as stainless steel mig wire never heard of it.
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 12:11 PM
  #6  
f150_514ci's Avatar
f150_514ci
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by cficare
How would you put a 2# roll of wire on a Miller 210? Are you using a spool-gun?
i can use a 2lb or a 10lb roll in mine just have to change a few things
 
Reply
Old Nov 6, 2005 | 11:46 PM
  #7  
Schmids4.9l's Avatar
Schmids4.9l
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 0
From: Bored town OH
I dont think lowes or home depot sell spools. TSC might though. I live about 25 minutes from Hobart Inst., and about 20 from a big welding supplier called Weiler Welding, finding welding equipment is easy
 
Reply
Old Nov 7, 2005 | 08:08 PM
  #8  
andy79's Avatar
andy79
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 131
Likes: 0
From: Mount Calvary, WI
Go to a welding supply store. They will have the wire. Also use a tri-mix gas. I believe it is carbon dioxide, argon, and helium.
 
Reply
FTE Stories

Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts

story-0

Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

 Brett Foote
story-2

Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

 Joe Kucinski
story-3

AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

 Brett Foote
story-4

Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-5

Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

 Brett Foote
story-8

2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-9

10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

 Joe Kucinski
Old Nov 8, 2005 | 05:08 AM
  #9  
bob arrington's Avatar
bob arrington
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 0
From: alaska
why the tr- mix? and my suggestions were based on the inexperianced " sounding" questions that you were asking,bob
 
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2005 | 04:31 PM
  #10  
farmtwuck's Avatar
farmtwuck
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
For MIG welding SS you need the following:

Tri-mix gas, (andy79), then the appropriate gauge wire (.035,.045, whatever) for your machine. Seems like Bob is confused on the wire: regular MIG wire isn't copper but it has that reddish coating on it that makes it look like copper.

You need to consider what alloy of SS you have and get the appropriate wire. The different alloys can have very different welding characteristics.

SSCX2: you may be able to weld SS with regular MIG wire but the weld will rust. Kind of defeats the purpose of SS.

I've never seen the wire at Lowe's or Home Depot. You might luck out at Sears. Best bet is welding supply store.

Hope this helps.
 
Reply
Old Nov 8, 2005 | 05:15 PM
  #11  
bob arrington's Avatar
bob arrington
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,280
Likes: 0
From: alaska
Originally Posted by farmtwuck
For MIG welding SS you need the following:

Tri-mix gas, (andy79), then the appropriate gauge wire (.035,.045, whatever) for your machine. Seems like Bob is confused on the wire: regular MIG wire isn't copper but it has that reddish coating on it that makes it look like copper.

You need to consider what alloy of SS you have and get the appropriate wire. The different alloys can have very different welding characteristics.

SSCX2: you may be able to weld SS with regular MIG wire but the weld will rust. Kind of defeats the purpose of SS.

I've never seen the wire at Lowe's or Home Depot. You might luck out at Sears. Best bet is welding supply store.

Hope this helps.
not confused , just suggesting a way to cheaply practice prior to buggering up a good piece of stainless ,which , since Im a self taught welder , makes sense. respectfully,bob
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2005 | 12:13 AM
  #12  
guthrie&co's Avatar
guthrie&co
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,551
Likes: 1
From: Hickory, North Carolina
.35 and .45 wire! dang what are you guys building? bridges and battleships?! i used to work for ppi motorsports and buil;ding chassis we used .25
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2005 | 01:17 AM
  #13  
f150_514ci's Avatar
f150_514ci
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 248
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by farmtwuck
For MIG welding SS you need the following:

Tri-mix gas, (andy79), then the appropriate gauge wire (.035,.045, whatever) for your machine. Seems like Bob is confused on the wire: regular MIG wire isn't copper but it has that reddish coating on it that makes it look like copper.

You need to consider what alloy of SS you have and get the appropriate wire. The different alloys can have very different welding characteristics.

SSCX2: you may be able to weld SS with regular MIG wire but the weld will rust. Kind of defeats the purpose of SS.

I've never seen the wire at Lowe's or Home Depot. You might luck out at Sears. Best bet is welding supply store.

Hope this helps.


finally someone with an answer ,lol thanks for the info
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2005 | 10:12 AM
  #14  
farmtwuck's Avatar
farmtwuck
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 303
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bob arrington
not confused , just suggesting a way to cheaply practice prior to buggering up a good piece of stainless ,which , since Im a self taught welder , makes sense. respectfully,bob
Bob, I definately agree with practising on scrap before you tackle the real job. I was only talking about the MIG wire. It isn't actually copper wire, just looks like it. But, you probably already knew that.
 
Reply
Old Nov 9, 2005 | 01:56 PM
  #15  
Schmids4.9l's Avatar
Schmids4.9l
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,611
Likes: 0
From: Bored town OH
Im pretty sure its copper coated, well I think it is anyways. Before I have to weld something that needs to look nice, I always do some practice beads, get the heat and wire speed set just right. Actually, if I need something to look good, I'll TIG it if possible.
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:30 AM.

story-0
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-1
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-3
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-4
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-5
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-6
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-7
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE
story-8
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!

Slideshow: Everything You Need to Know about the 2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-07 17:51:06


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!

Slideshow: 10 most surprising Ford truck options/features in 2026.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-05 11:17:22


VIEW MORE