Ins & Outs of Welding Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is a popular material of choice for a variety of applications due to its inherent ability to resist corrosion. It’s found in medical devices, architectural and ornamental structures, food processing facilities, and many more, everyday items.

Amtex Precision specializes in working with this unique material and we recognize the nuances and challenges that welding stainless steel can pose.

During the welding process, due to stainless steel’s high nickel content, heat tends to concentrate at the arc and does not dissipate as easily compared to welding of carbon steel. This creates some welding pitfalls that include warping, burn-through, and oxidation.

Additionally, discoloration is a common side effect of welding stainless. This can be concerning if it affects the corrosion resistance properties of the material.

In order to combat these pitfalls, Amtex Precision works with each client to ensure the proper process and procedure is selected prior to welding. We offer three processes when it comes to welding stainless steel.

First, Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW or MIG), is an excellent choice for thicker materials, usually 3/16” – 1/4″ thick and over. This process is a more efficient and better for high volume production due to its fast travel speed and ease of nature to learn. Amtex Precision holds a D1.6 certification for this process.

Second, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW or TIG), is an excellent choice for thinner materials such as 24ga to 11ga thick. This process produces very little spatter and has the highest aesthetics and bead appearance. However, GTAW tends to be a much slower process and requires a highly skilled welder. Amtex Precision holds an ASME IX certification for this process.

Third, Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW) is also an excellent choice for thicker materials like GMAW/MIG. The benefit of this process is that it can be faster and more efficient than GMAW/MIG without creating the spatter typical of the GMAW/MIG process. Therefore, it does not require as much clean up as GMAW/MIG. The downside to FCAW is weld aesthetics may not be as high compared to GMAW/MIG, but that does not affect the structural integrity of the weld. This process is ideal for projects where cosmetics are not a critical factor.

All these options are prone to the pitfalls of welding stainless. Throughout the many years of specializing in and welding stainless, Amtex Precision has developed processes and procedures on combating each difficulty. Some of these include how to stress relieve a warped weld assembly, how to minimize discoloration, and how to handle ornamental material as it travels through the shop to ensure it remains aesthetically unblemished.

Our expert staff is available to discuss your next stainless steel welding project.
Call us at 281-489-7042 to setup a free consultation.