Just curious if anyone here welds ...I got dads wirefeed out today and was trying to tack weld 2 bolts to my billet grill. For years in the military i did prep work for our welders and ran stick welders a few times. I spent more time on the plasma cutter than anything tho so i really never devloped this skill .

So i set the bolt in the spot i wanted it. Then made sure i got all the paint off the metal with my grinder to make sure that didnt screw my weld up . I put the wire on normal feed and "low" to start. I aimed the stick right in the area where the bolt meets the grill and pulled the trigger . Zapped a few times and took my helmet off to see if i did it right...(wish i had one of those new instant on helmet lenses so i can see the whole time instaed of flying blind till the first arc hits)

I cant get the bastard (bolt) to stick to it at all !!!

Am i doing something wrong ? the grill is steel , the bolt is stainless steel ...

I got the grill back on anyway and got it adjusted and fitting perfectly without the 2 extra bolts i had planned but im still wondering what i did wrong

Just curious if anyone here welds ...I got dads wirefeed out today and was trying to tack weld 2 bolts to my billet grill. For years in the military i did prep work for our welders and ran stick welders a few times. I spent more time on the plasma cutter than anything tho so i really never devloped this skill .

So i set the bolt in the spot i wanted it. Then made sure i got all the paint off the metal with my grinder to make sure that didnt screw my weld up . I put the wire on normal feed and "low" to start. I aimed the stick right in the area where the bolt meets the grill and pulled the trigger . Zapped a few times and took my helmet off to see if i did it right...(wish i had one of those new instant on helmet lenses so i can see the whole time instaed of flying blind till the first arc hits)

I cant get the bastard (bolt) to stick to it at all !!!

Am i doing something wrong ? the grill is steel , the bolt is stainless steel ...

I got the grill back on anyway and got it adjusted and fitting perfectly without the 2 extra bolts i had planned but im still wondering what i did wrong


Are you using the correct wire feed for the stainless steel to steel weld? You can weld the two together, but you'll need the correct wire feed that will bond with the stronger stainless steel so you can get the two objects to bond.

i tried "hi" and "low" but i didnt mess witht he knob , is that the part that regulates the feed ? i figured hi and low was the voltage and thats what i needed to change ...but i needed to mess with the rate on the wire feed ?

i tried "hi" and "low" but i didnt mess witht he knob , is that the part that regulates the feed ? i figured hi and low was the voltage and thats what i needed to change ...but i needed to mess with the rate on the wire feed ?

Okay, what I meant was what kind of wire are you using for the welding? Normally I used coat hangers for just common stuff, but when welding stainless steel, you have to use wire that will bond it to what you're trying to put together.

Anyways, are you using a gas welder or one of the electric ones?

My Dad welds sometimes and I thought there was some sort of "gel" he applies first to ensure it "Sticks."

stone i agree with earlier post you are prob useing the wrong wire
two dis similar metals
takes some reseacrh

ohhhh the wire itself ...sorry , see what i mean by not enough training on it ? LOL ....

ohhhh the wire itself ...sorry , see what i mean by not enough training on it ? LOL ....Don't sweat it Mike. Jspano is right, you have dissimilar metals here. Common steel is ferrous, stainless steel is non-ferrous. It might be better for you this time out to get iron bolts (ferrous) that will better match the grille. (are you sure the grille is steel and not aluminum?) just asking stupid questions.

I would practice on scrap metal first to get a feel for your “squirt gun” before doing the deed for real.

Let us know how it turns out.

well the grille is done i just decided to bend it into its proper shape instaed of making bolts do the work , came out very nice ....

ive been wanting to take welding classes but the VA wont pay for it becuse the welding degree cant be applied to a accociate or bachelors degree ...which is bullshit if you ask me , thats the problem with graduates , they dont get to do things like learn to weld or learn the trades that are the backbone of this land ....i guess thats why a mechanic like me doesnt have much respect for someone with a "MBA" because with all there talent they cant do the simple things in life for themselves

BTW im pretty sure the grill is steel , its very heavy for what it is ..

I weld, I do great work now that I am home to resume my work, tell ya what, you send it to me and I'll weld that sumbitch fer ya, or you can pay me to come out there an weld it for ya but then I gotta charge ya.