during an introduction to TIG welding I was allowed to use the machine. I laid down a respectable bead on some mild steel using stainless steel filler (not by choice, just what I happened to pick up).

afterwards, the instructor stated getting a nice looking bead was "too easy" using stainless, but never explained what he meant.

Yes, it was easy. But is it "bad" to use stainless filler on mild steel?

dave

[Edited on 26/2/04 by dmottaway]

ive welded stainless to mild before and it was very strong, but with mild wire and it wasnt a critical application, at work we weld a lot of tensile steel cages for cast stone, and try to avoid welding normal tensile with stainless wire, and stainless with mild steel wire because of the corrosion factor when mixing metals. cant remember the chemical reaction, but its the same with any mix of metals, ie it will happen over time when you fix your alluminium panels to the chassis of your locost unless you paint the steel first to create a barrier.

I think what your instructor was refering to, is that SS Tig is very 'wet', this is that it the stainless filler rod flows really nicely into the parent material, and gives a really beautifull weld. Mild needs a little more heat and a more controlled feed rate to give the same results.