| Can I weld 4130 with a stainless steel welding rod? | | | | you use stainless rods...all shiny with different |
| That is a frequently asked welding question seen on | | | | colors...and you know what that means? |
| all kinds of internet forums for car racing, home built | | | | Nothing! |
| airplanes, go carts, baja racing, bicycle builders, drag | | | | The problem in using stainless filler rod for welding |
| racing, and other motorsports forums. | | | | chromoly steel is that different welders will get |
| It is obvious that a lot of people are tig welding 4130 | | | | different results. Not surface appearance, but |
| using stainless filler rods like 308 but that does not | | | | microstructure. Every welder will get a different |
| mean it is any better than good old E70s2 mild steel | | | | degree of dilution and therefore the microstructure |
| tig rod. Why would you want to use a more | | | | of the weld done with stainless filler metal might be |
| expensive welding rod if it was not proven better? | | | | unpredictable. |
| I can get E70S2 tig welding rod for around 3 bucks a | | | | Predictability is very important when it comes to |
| pound. But 308 stainless tig rod runs about 10 bucks | | | | things like airplanes and race cars. Just like old Hank |
| a pound. Other stainless steel rods that some people | | | | told his son Bobby on King of the Hill..."Bobby, Women |
| use for tig welding chromoly, like 309, 310, or 312 | | | | love predictability!" Using E70S2 filler rod results in a |
| cost even more, like over 20 dollars per pound. | | | | more predictable weld microstructure that is less |
| I am all for paying a little more when something | | | | dependent on the welder for good results. |
| works better, but I need proof and the only proof I | | | | Predictability in both welding and women is |
| have found is people saying they like the way | | | | underrated. |
| stainless rods weld. Sure the weld looks cool when | | | | |