I want to have a go at beefing up the bracket on my exhaust can, with some stainless bar that I have got. I dont know what grades the can or the bar are. So is it case of 316 rods will do any grade that i'm likely to have, or do I need some 312 rods (I believe they're for dissimilar metals, but i'm unsure) or do I need something else completely different? Thanks in advance.

Personally i always have a few 309 to hand.
Like 312 they cover most eventualities.

Cans are often made from 400 series steels which are chrome steel, and need 309 to weld them.


316 will cover you for the "proper" stainless steels, i.e. chrome/ nickel.

HTH
Paul G

I use 312, there's a chap on ebay that will sell small packs of cut in half rods for a reasonable sum

thanks guys, i've found the bloke on ebay and for 38 1/2 rods of 309, and 38 1/2 rods of 312 it's £12, does that sound reasonable?

Yes, sounds ok. You don't have a lot of choice really as you definitely DON'T want to see the price of a full tube of them

ps how many will you need, I have a couple of spares if two or three half rods of 312 will do it?

NS Dev thanks for the offer you're a legend, but ive bought some off him now, like you say handy to have.
Cheers Simon