What are the main issues that we need to address when spot welding 302/304 stainless steel? We are used to steel and aren't having good luck with stainless. What should be changed as compared to 1008/1010 steel? Part thicknesses are .060"part to an .040" part. Let me know what other information you might need. Thanks.

-- Jim Janvrin (jajanvrin@aol.com), April 08, 2002

Answers

IF YOU WILL GIVE ME A FAX NUMBER, I WILL SEND YOU A STAINLESS STEEL WELD CHART. WE USE A 1/4/IN FACE ELECTRODE,700 PSI 20 WELD CYCLE, 6000 AMPS WELD CURRENT AND 10 CYCLE HOLD. SINCE WE HAVE NO STANDARD FOR WELD CURRENT, START LOW AND INCREASE UNTIL YOU HAVE A GOOD WELD.

-- TOM MITCHELL (INFO@ATEKCORP.COM), April 12, 2002.

IF YOU WILL GIVE ME A FAX NUMBER, I WILL SEND YOU A STAINLESS STEEL WELD CHART. WE USE A 1/4/IN FACE ELECTRODE,700 PSI 20 WELD CYCLE, 6000 AMPS WELD CURRENT AND 10 CYCLE HOLD. SINCE WE HAVE NO STANDARD FOR WELD CURRENT, START LOW AND INCREASE UNTIL YOU HAVE A GOOD WELD.

GOOD LUCK

-- TOM MITCHELL (INFO@ATEKCORP.COM), April 12, 2002.

Tom is giving you good information, so here's a little bit more: You might enhance your application by putting a slightly smaller face electrode on the thinner metal. This concentrates the heat, and has less surface cooling effect, positioning the nugget closer to the smaller tip. Be sure the tip geometry stays in proportion as the two tips wear ("mushroom"). The best way to see exactly what you need, is to cut, etch and polish a weld cross section, you will see if the nugget is centered on the faying surface. Do get the info from Mr. Mitchell, his welding company has experience with all the hard-to-weld applications, so his advice will be good.

-- David Bacon (dbacon@updatetechnology.com), April 18, 2002.

Dear Jim,

We have a truncated welding called TUNGCORE with an insert of an alloy of tungsten and copper. It makes the tip much harder and it does not mushroom as easy. Stainless steel is very good to weld with these tips. Please see our web page www.datawelder.com for more info or call 1-800-972-6959.

Lennart Naslund/president Data Welder Inc.

-- Lennart Naslund (datawelder@prodigy.net), June 30, 2002.