Welding Tips and Tricks

I received a job from a friend to weld up some light gauge 308 SS. He brought me a pan that one of his friends (and another competing shop) had done. I was amazed when he told me he went there and asked if they could weld SS. The reply was "oh yea it is just like welding steel". Well it didn't turn out so hot. I received permission to share these photos as a learning tool for others. If you do not know what you are doing, let someone else do it or practice on some scrap first. They used 308 Mig wire with 75/25 gas and had a mess on their hands. The thing I cant figure out is why didn't they stop when it was realized this wasn't working. The sad part is my friend had $50 in material and it was a total loss. I finished his other 18 ga pan and order in 12 ga 316L for the next pan. Unfortunately for me it was a rush job so I was not able to give it the county fair job, but still good. Enjoy
-Jonathan

I did not have time for pictures of the 18 ga pan but here are a few of the 1/8" pan. The MIG process was chosen for the speed, he literally waited on this to get done.
-Jonathan

It never ceases to amaze me what people will do, and why they can't admit when they can't do a job.

Nice job btw

Wow how to turn $50 worth of stainless into scrap metal. I hope your friend learned not to trust them to do anything else for him.

Wow, what a mess, Just cause you can do something, doesn't mean you should.
Did you carbon arc the old weld out???

~John

AKweldshop wrote: Did you carbon arc the old weld out???

~John

No, I used a bastard file

Greg- You know the unfortunate thing is I am friends with them too and they do absolutely awesome work in their field. Just not SS.
-Jonathan

Don't kill a man for his weak points, we cant all be good at everything.

AKweldshop wrote:Wow, what a mess, Just cause you can do something, doesn't mean you should.
Did you carbon arc the old weld out???

~John

No he didn't know how to do it Period.

Sorry didn't mean to be mean to your friend. I hope he knows not to try it again LOL

Greg From K/W wrote:

AKweldshop wrote:Wow, what a mess, Just cause you can do something, doesn't mean you should.
Did you carbon arc the old weld out???

~John

No he didn't know how to do it Period.

Sorry didn't mean to be mean to your friend. I hope he knows not to try it again LOL

Hey,
It might not pass visual, but it might pass the bend.
That is like soot on Aluminum mig beads, welds still are "strong"....