After several years of looking, I bought a Henrob torch at

Sun 'n Fun.

This

is the small-output torch that can handle very thin to

reasonably thick

metal.  I was impressed by the results of Henrob's

very-talented

welders.

With the video and a little practice, I have been able to

get very nice,

strong welds in stainless 304/316.  Henrob doesn't recommend

flux for

stainless -- just aluminum.  My welds were ugly at first,

but as soon as

you learn to control the flame and flow of metal, they

become very nice.

There is nothing wrong with a strong, but ugly weld.  For

stainless, you

don't want to use a neutral or oxidizing flame, as it needs

a relatively

oxygen-free environment. Overall, stainless is very amenable

to gas

welding

without flux, but I can't say that a flux might not make it

even better.

Stainless always turns dark, especially when using the

appropriate

carburizing flame.  A temporary ugly.  This comes off with

bead-blasting,

sanding or polishing.   Steel is also pretty easy with this

torch up to

3/8" thick or so.  Aluminum is much harder to gas-weld,

depending on the

alloy and its thickness.  I've destroyed a number of

practice aluminum

pieces trying to get it right.  Aluminum like 6061 is also

weakened

considerably by welding, so critical parts need

heat-treating.

Scott Gettings

Scott,
The black marking on SS can be removed with 'pickle paste', put

it on and

rinse off with water after a few moments - it comes up perfectly

clean.

You can use a piece of stainless scrap material,as a welding

rod, if you

don't have rods available.

SS 302, 304, 316 is usually welded with 316 SS Rod - welding rod

is more

pure than base material.

Mig welding of SS uses a fluxed cored wire -if gas is not used.

Gas used for SS welding is a mixture of Argon and Oxygen mixture

- whereas

with aluminium it's pure Argon.

HTH.
George (down under)

Cool.  I'll get some pickle paste!

Scott

 
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