How to Use E309 for Welding 321 Stainless
A form of stainless steel that is specifically formulated for use in welding applications is called 321. This special type of stainless steel includes a high-carbon titanium that protects the metal from discoloring and warping during the welding process and prevents rusting. An E309 welding rod is used in the the stick metal arc welding technique, often called SMAW, that passes an electric current through the rod into the sheet metal to create enough heat to fuse the metal together.
Things You'll Need
- Sheets of 321 stainless steel
- Wire brush
- Clamps
- Welding machine
- E309 welding rod
- Welder's mask and gloves
Instructions
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1
Clean the edge of the stainless steel sheets with a wire brush to remove any corrosion and dirt.
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2
Clamp the sheet metal in place so that the sheet metal does not move during the welding process.
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3
Attach the E309 to the welding machine's welding cable and clamp the grounding cable from the welding machine onto the sheet metal.
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4
Put on a welder's mask and gloves for safety.
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5
Hold the metal welding rod vertically in relation to the sheet metal and touch the tip to the metal along the seam between the sheets. Quickly drag the tip to a 45 degree angle to spark an electric arc.
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6
Slowly move the welding rod in a back-and-forth motion along the metal seam to weld the sheets together.
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Move the welding rod away from the sheet metal once you have completed to the welding seam in order to stop the arc weld.
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Tips & Warnings
Always weld in a well-ventilated area.
Do not weld near flammable materials.
References
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
