MIG welding stainless steel

[Bolt]

Guys,

I need to weld 40 brackets together, made of 12 gauge stainless, the cheaper grade (can't remember the number). It consists of a 2 1/2 inch strip with a 2 inch tappered pocket to be welded on to it. It does not need to be welded up solid, 4 good tack welds will do the trick.

I would like to take a stab at this using my MM 251, and was wondering what sheilding gas I can get away with using. Ed Wright's site states Argon + 3% CO2. Has anoyone used this with good results? Or do I need to look at the tri-mixes?

Any particular brand of wire yall prefer over another?

Thanks a bunch.

[Aaron]

At the shop we use trimix, but it's for the food industry so results are much more critical. At home I use C25 since I'm not eating off the stuff. More discoloration, but the welds are strong enough.

[Bolt]

Well this is sorta in the food industry, sorta not. It's never in contact with it, but I would like a clean, nice looking weld.

Anybody run a Ar + 3% CO2 mix?

[OlPilot]

That outta' work. Recommend 308 wire.

[Paychk]

At work we're running 308 wire, it is a flux core w/ straight CO2. Works great.

[Bolt]

Or could I possibly run 308 wire with a 84/16 Ar CO2 mix? Would corrosion be a problem with this setup? These brackets will be in a moist, dirty enivronment, and would like to keep them looking nice.