Coated electrodes and welding wires are available for all grades of stainless
 steel.  The following table lists the normal and, when there is one, a
 generally acceptable alternate selection.  Acceptable alternates are those
 that have strength and corrosion resistance equal to or greater than the base
 metal.  The proper AWS designation for electrodes is the alloy designation
 preceded by E, for example, E 308; for bare wires it is ER as, ER 308.  The
 AWS designation should be used for designating filler materials as there are
 slight differences in filler metal and base metal composition.  For example,
 type 304L is welded with E308L or ER308L, not 304L.


FILLER METALS FOR WELDING STAINLESS STEELS

Base Metal          Coated Electrode SMAW         Welding Wire TIG/MIG
                    Normal    Alternate           Normal    Alternate

201                 E 308                         ER 308
410                 E 410     E 410 NI Mo         ER 410
430                 E 430                         ER 430
301 & 302           E 308                         ER 308
304                 E 308     E 308H / E 347      ER 308      ER 347
304L                E 308L    E 347               ER 308L     ER 321 / ER 347
321                 E 321     E 347 / E 308L      ER 347      ER 347 / ER 308L
347                 E 347                         ER 347
316                 E 316     E 317               ER 316      ER 317
316L                E 316L    E 317L              ER 316      ER 317L
317L                E 317L    E 904L              ER 317L     ER 904L
904L                Alloy 625 E NiCrMo 3          Alloy 625   ER NiCrMo 3
329                 E 312Mo                       ER 312Mo
309                 E 309     E 310               ER 309      ER 310
310                 E 310                         ER 310
330                 E 330                         ER 330

                             WELD OVERLAYS

Carbon steel        E 309 or E 310 to match 304   ER 309 or ER 310
Carbon steel        E 309LMo to match 316L        ER 309LMo
Steel Mill Rolls    E 420                         ER 420

There are a number of unsatisfactory combinations.  Two deserve special
 mention.  First, the lower strength of the L grades limits their usefulness
 as a filler metal for the standard grades.  Second, the lower corrosion
 resistance of the Mo free grades can lead to preferential corrosion of the
 weld metal should they be used as filler metal for the Mo containing grades.


Additional information on welding of stainless steel is available in:
     "Welding of Stainless Steels and Other Methods of Joining", available from
       NiDI, Literature Item 9 002.

     "Welding Handbook", American Welding Society, 550 NW Le Jeune Road, POB
       351040, Miami, FL 33135.

     "Metals Handbook", Ninth Edition, Volume 6, Welding, Brazing
      and Soldering, Metals Park, Ohio 44073.
