Electrode Selection

TIG = 316L ss, 316L filler wire,309 ss or Inconel 3...

316-SS to mild steel use 309 filler

302,310,314 stainless to mild steel: use 310 filler material

303,305 use 312 filler

http://www.weldreality.com/stainlesswelddata.htm

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/6367
http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/27748/Welding-Mild-Steel-to-Stainless-Steel

When ROD welding carbon steel to stainless always use the rod that you would use to join 2 pieces of the grade of stainless steel together, i.e. for 316SS to carbon steel use 316 rod. For 304SS to C.S. use 304 rod.

For MIG welding use 316SS wire.

It is always better to use a better grade of wire/rod if the correct one is not readily available. A filler of the better materials being joined is always the best choice if there is none available specifically for the metals you are joining.

Good Luck, Old Salt

Choice of 2 such different materials - will cause always enhanced corrosion!!

Preference is fastening with bolts,but with plastic separators between them!!

I was not discussing the best way of fastening two different metal pieces together but what was the best way to weld STAINLESS STEEL to CARBON STEEL and how to select the best filler material for the joint if no rod or wire is manufactured specifically for the types of metals that are being joined by welding! A I read the poster's original message this is what I thought he/she was inquiring about. I hope my reply was understandable for him/her and assisted in finding the answer to the post.

I am fully aware that this method "will cause always enhanced corrosion" but that is one of the properties of the welding of "2 such different materials". In reality this is only a relative thing since they are not as dissimilar as other possible combinations, i.e. steel-aluminum, stainless-copper, stainless-magnesium, steel-titanium, etc.

I am also aware that some dissimilar materials can never be welded such as: steel-wood, glass-steel, plastics-steel, water-stainless steel, wood-plastic, paper-aluminum, etc.

Finally, I am also well aware that the welding of stainless steel to carbon steel is posssible and done extensively in many industries as temporary repair work or low consequence of failure parts. During my recent career I have seen many people weld these materials and have done so myself on numerous occasions. Many of these items are still working fine for as long as 30 years. This type of welding will also survive heat much longer than "bolts with plastic seperators between them".

The conditions of the application and the solution must be examined closely and correctly prior to any work being done.

I was answering the posters question, not attempting to solve all fastening problems.

Good Luck, Old Salt