Stainless Countertops

[Bert]

admweld, so it that the wax/clay stuff I'm thinking about?

[FM117]

One vote for a small mig. You will be able to weld it faster with the mig,
less total heat input and less warping. The warping is the big pain in the
butt with stainless, big flat sheets are even a bigger pain.
Tig works well for small patch work...cracked corners etc.
Dave

[phaxtris]

maxstar 150 would be perfect for that kind of work, i wouldnt touch a counter top with a mig machine unless your looking to do a lot of grinding

just run a few small stiches on the bottome of the seam, and fusion weld the top side, that is how i see them done, and the only work you have to do afterword is pickel it, no grinding, buffing, etc

[SundownIII]

Bert,

You've already got the best machine (Dynasty 200 DX) for the job. Just run it off 120v and you're there.

If you didn't already have the Dynasty, the new Maxstar 150 STH (w/hi freq) is the machine I'd recommend. About 14 lbs, and 120v capable. Plenty machine to weld the SS you're talking about. Check it out in the new Miller catalog.

[dabar39]

Bert, I have done a bunch of commercial stainless countertops. The ones that I have worked with are usually 24 to 28 gauge brushed stainless. Very difficult to try and weld. Wherever the seam is going to be we usually break the adjoining edges and use a spot welder to join them. too much warpage and too much work to polish them up for a complete match. Wherever the seam lies we put a bead of silicone to take up the space between the breaks.


P.S. If you don't understand my post, give me a call and I'll try to better describe it. Dave

[Bert]

Phax, what do you mean by "pickling" it? And as far as "welding the bottom seam and fusing the top", I thought the sheets were butted up (edge of each sheet) together? so there wouldn't be much of a seam, eh???
thanks muchos,
bert

[mikeswelding]

Best machine for onsite or mobile on SS IMHO is the Passport. It is light, runs on 110 or 220 AND has a setting especially for SS. I have done numerous onsite repair jobs in restaurants and it works great. Also, tri-mix gas is recommended for SS.

[fun4now]

the passport would be grate is ya have the $$ and or the work load to support it. good excuse to give the wife to get a new toy. i was supposed to do some SS restaurant work for the wifes ex-boss,( that put the seal on getting the TA-185, it was building carts at home) but she quit the job and i lost my connect.
the passport + allows for aluminum (not just a spool gun but a different arc as well) well worth the little extra $ to go +
pickling is a chemical wash.

[Bert]

mikeswelding,
thanks, do you know the best tr-mix to use? I talked to a guy that had a friend using a "special" tr-mix for doing aluminum sched 40 truck racks. Racks were beautuful, and he said he didn't know what it was, but it was a "special" tri-mix his friend used other than 100% argon or 10% helium/90% argon that most people use for aluminum.
Fun, do you know what the pickling recipe is?
thanks guys,
bert

[fun4now]

Fun, do you know what the pickling recipe is?
little dill weed, some vinegar, and..........wait you meant for SS.
naaa sorry been years sense i worked with plaiting metals, and the old noodle is full of too much useless info to dig out the good stuff.