SS Hard Surfacing

Hard Surfacing - Filler Metals - Welding.com.au

Stelliting is for one.

elaborate please?

Are you referring to Stellite ( I think that's how it's spelt). A brand of hardfacing and building up materials of different types.

One in the Stellite range from memory does have a Stainless like deposit. But I think they are more into the cobalt-chrome type of wear materials not the Austenitic type.

See: http://www.stellite.com/

SS is not that hard, - need Cr, Mo, e.g. -alloys

will it "work harden"

George, what is the hardness you have in mind and for what purpose you need to use it? Stainless steel has no good running qualities unless in rubber bearings and water or oil lubricated. Of course when applied to a soft material, even plastics it is "harder", but compared to the "cemented" and polished coatings on e.g. crankshafts, it stands no chance. For axial gliding you can apply it. Some pistons for heavy equipment have that kind of coating. But the strongest and real heavy duty ones have different alloys as surface.

Found this link. Maybe of some use. http://www.engineersedge.com/stainless_steel.htm

Yeap, a couple of times mostly in situations where proper Austenitic Stainless Steels Rods/wire wasn't available (in the middle of the bush in the middle of no where encourages invention).

I seen 309 work harden up to 65Rc, if done properly it would go higher.

Mostly use in applications where there is some metal to metal sliding like wear.

If you can have a good look at AS/NZS 2576: 1315-A4 prefectly acceptable Stainless (like) deposit

Side Note: It's always done with a buffer layer of E7018 or E8018-B2 underneath though.