Materials
Preparing stainless steel for welding
Quick answer
Prepare stainless steel by cleaning dedicated stainless brushes and discs — carbon steel contamination causes rust later. On this material, cleanliness decides weld quality more than machine settings do.
The prep routine
- dedicated stainless brushes and discs — carbon steel contamination causes rust later
- Clamp or tack so the joint can't walk as heat goes in
- Check fit-up: gaps eat filler and heat control
- For multi-pass, brush and inspect between passes