Arc welding stainless with 140 invertor?

[jerrytug]

I have an R-Tech 140 invertor, basic with no hot start etc.
Can I just use suitable stainless rods and make things in about 3-4 mm thick stainless? DCEP or N?
Fillets and v'd out butt joints flat on the bench, nothing fancy.
Obviously I will need a fair bit of practise on the technique, but I'm on a stick course and the instructor is very flexible and positive, shouldn't be a problem.
Not looking for a free tutorial here guys, just a yes or no as to whether you can or cant, really. Thanks Jerry

 

[Hood]

Not a problem, been stick welding stainless for more years than I care to remember and the last 15-20 with inverter welders and the first few were just basic Chinese ones with no adjustments other than current.

 

[Paul.]

Yes should do the job perfectly, I used a little inverter for this job, the electrodes were 3.2's you will only need 2.5's for what you want to do.

 

[jerrytug]

Good one! thanks

 

[Memmeddu]

I did stainless by using a buzz box I think isn't a problem do with an inverter welder .
I do 6010 using a cheap (140 euros) 250A inverter so you can do stainless with your inverter

 

[123hotchef]

watch the slag with those stainless rods it pings off at ya as it cools! great rods to weld with though turn the juice down a bit compared to a mild steel rod

 

[Kent]

Yes you can no great isdues at all othervthan the kamakazi slag pinging off into your eyes big time!
Oh fume from stainless flux is far more toxic wear a respirator at least and well vented areas

 

[123hotchef]

Yes you can no great isdues at all othervthan the kamakazi slag pinging off into your eyes big time!
Oh fume from stainless flux is far more toxic wear a respirator at least and well vented areas

i used them for the first time last year so nice to weld with but the slag pings off as it cools so if u are welding long runs dont lift the mask

 

[Kent]

i used them for the first time last year so nice to weld with but the slag pings off as it cools so if u are welding long runs dont lift the mask

Safety specs under the mask are a good idea normally. Doing stainless frankly i say they sre essential

 

[Onoff]

I like the way the slag leaves a vapour trail on really cold, damp days!

Found it handy to turn the workpiece upside down quickly after welding so the slag pings into the bench/floor.

 

[KemppiFrog]

I have done a few bits for boats with stick. From 2mm up to around 8mm. Apart from dodging the slag, I find that the rod tends to melt back a bit from the flux covering, so one needs to scrape it on the floor to expose the tip again. This could be my choice of amps..
Used 3.2s with my little 125 amp inverter and with the buzzbox. I might be a bit old school, but find the soft start on the inverter makes it less easy.

 

[premmington]

Safety specs under the mask are a good idea normally. Doing stainless frankly i say they sre essential

I did some 312 in the week - one bit in a vice on a bench.

When I finished welding - I walked back - to what I thought was a safe distance - lifted my mask - bit pinged off and hit me in the face.

Stainless slag is evil - I remove lots of locking wheel bolts with 312 - I do the cars on the floor with a trolley jack - rather than lifting the car on a ramp to face height.

 

[Kent]

I have done a few bits for boats with stick. From 2mm up to around 8mm. Apart from dodging the slag, I find that the rod tends to melt back a bit from the flux covering, so one needs to scrape it on the floor to expose the tip again. This could be my choice of amps..
Used 3.2s with my little 125 amp inverter and with the buzzbox. I might be a bit old school, but find the soft start on the inverter makes it less easy.

Soft start? Thought they where all pretty much hot start not soft start

 

[premmington]

Soft start? Thought they where all pretty much hot start not soft start

I always find relighting a rod with an inverter - with a higher OCV of 90 plus volts - easier than relighting a rod with a buzz box with 48 volts.

I do still use my Buzz Box - but I have a problem finding rods that will work on such a low voltage. Elga 3.2mm Cromarod 312 from Rapid being the best at low voltage.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Soft start? Thought they where all pretty much hot start not soft start

It has a lower starting ampage to get going, then ups it to whatever is set. Is that hot start? I was told soft start, but happy to be corrected.

 

[Kent]

It has a lower starting ampage to get going, then ups it to whatever is set. Is that hot start? I was told soft start, but happy to be corrected.

Its easier to start hot not cold, also just like little tacks dont dive deep neither do the very start of a weld, its always near the end you start fighting over penetration, crators / undercut and blowing through.
Quite likey you where misled by the sales guy because few can actually weld worth a damb and its easy to get confused

 

[KemppiFrog]

Its easier to start hot not cold, also just like little tacks dont dive deep neither do the very start of a weld, its always near the end you start fighting over penetration, crators / undercut and blowing through.
Quite likey you where misled by the sales guy because few can actually weld worth a damb and its easy to get confused

I have been stick welding for 60yrs (started V young..) The 'sales guy' was a forumite and refered to it as soft start and it does take a moment to get established, which, frankly, I don't like or need. The only previous inverter I had, a Telwyn, started just like my old buzzbox.

 

[Kent]

I have been stick welding for 60yrs (started V young..) The 'sales guy' was a forumite and refered to it as soft start and it does take a moment to get established, which, frankly, I don't like or need. The only previous inverter I had, a Telwyn, started just like my old buzzbox.

Oprative word of course was "sales"

 

[KemppiFrog]

Oprative word of course was "sales"

Bit cynical about a forumite I have had a few bits off and he just remarked that the start might be useful if I wanted to do some Tig with it.

 

[Kent]

Don't actually know what a forumite is to be honest