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Can you MIG 304SS?
I've got conflicting opinions. Stainless MIG wire is available, and we've got a welder with an argon tank, so that should be covered.... as long as the settings are right, it should be doable correct? I'm talking exhaust tubing here, its not terribly thick and I don't need pretty overlapping dime welds, just gotta seal it up and not burn holes through it.
Yes or no? Dezod, Gerry, Tom....?

 
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Yes you can mig 304ss. It's not going to look like a tig weld but it doesn't matter because it's going to be underneaththe car.

 
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yes you can...I had some weld work done on my old catback when I had the civic

 
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yeah that shouldnt be a problem. It feels a lil different than welding with steel wire but its not bad at all to work with. I actually like mig welding stainless. We use it for making big *** grappling hooks for fishing boats and stuff like that.

 
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yes, VERY doable ive done it and seen some VERY nice SS manifolds mig'd. I agree on liking to weld SS, its almost easier and seems to always turn out better , could just be my dumb luck too

 
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Thats what I thought.... I couldn't see why they'd sell ss wire and then not be able to do it....
last question.... to weld the new SS DP to the non SS neck on the cat (good ol' emissions) do you use stainless wire or mild wire?

 
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Should always use the higher grade metal as in use stainless wire when welding SS to mild

 
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yes, use the higher grade wire. But remember, when you are welding stainless, use the wire for the grade higher. So if you are welding 304, use 308 wire/rod.

 
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if you are welding s/s to mild steel, try to use 309 wire. It holds up much better.

 
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309 was the wire I had in mind.... there's no issue using 309 for all of it is there?

 
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The only thing I was wondering about is the pure argon hotter than the 75/25 mix?

 
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75/25 welds hotter, I can run my machines at about 10-20 amps less with 75/25 depending on the materials. The argon will be fine. Id say if you have 304 materials and some mild steel to weld to it just use the 309 for everything. I dont see a problem with that, really.

 
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if you have a really weak machine (like my little 125v mig) you can use an Argon, Helium, Carbon Dioxide mix. It greatly reduces the amount of power needed to lay the proper bead with the right penetration. And i know my little machine has a hell of a time with stainless when using straight argon.

 
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^ good point.