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The Pros and Cons of Welding With Stainless Steel

Welding with stainless steel is excellent for restaurants, medical equipment companies, or the oil industry; however, there are pros and cons to this type of metal. This may be a complex material to work with for a novice welder because it can be sensitive to certain elements. Below you can find the advantages of using this metal in projects and the disadvantages you could face once you start applying the weld.

Pros of Using Stainless Steel for Welding

The industries mentioned before use stainless steel welding because this metal is resistant to bacterial growth. Stainless steel ensures restaurant prep tables will remain sanitary and medical equipment supplies will be sterile. This metal grade can also handle extreme differences in hot and cold temperatures.

Furthermore, stainless steel is resistant to chemical corrosion, so it also has advantages for transporting corrosive chemicals without needing to be overly cautious because the metal can withstand abrasion. It’s also resistant to various types of gases and liquids, making this material challenging to tarnish.

Cons of Using Stainless Steel for Welding

Just as there are pros to welding with stainless steel, there are also cons and disadvantages you must understand. Any blemish or mark you accidentally make on the material during the welding process will be left behind because this metal is unforgiving in the aesthetics department. This is why more amateur welders use this metal over novice professionals. You must be careful when handling the material.

While stainless steel is corrosion-resistant, this metal can still rust under extreme conditions. Additionally, various alloys are used within the material, so you must be wary of what shielding gas and filler material you use. We recommend using this metal for specific applications when necessary because this material will be on the higher end of the price scale.

Welding Techniques for Stainless Steel

The technique you use for welding this material will give you various results. MIG, TIG, or stick welding are typical applications for stainless steel. TIG welding is a great fit when you’re performing an artistry project; a MIG weld is a preferable choice if efficiency and speed are significant factors. To note, if you’re using the MIG method, you must ensure you’re using inert gas purging for stainless steel and choosing the ideal inert gas for the application. Otherwise, the weld may not look uniform.

There are advantages and disadvantages to any type of metal you could weld. Stainless steel is a tricky material to work with at first, but it will become easier after practice and many applications. While this metal is challenging to work with, it can produce professional, clean, and aesthetically pleasing results.

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Written by Logan Voss

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