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)

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