I'll give it a try! Thanks for everyone's input!

 

Tungsten choice is Important as well. 2 % Thoriated tungsten is mainly used for what we work on most (Carbon Steel and Stainless) If you switch to Aluminum where your probably using AC Curretn then thats a whole other ball of wax. Welding is all setup. The actual weld itsself is a result of proper preparation.

 

I am using .2% as well. I will try the gas lens, and go from there. I feel the prep is good... wiring the metal, then acetone.

I just need to dial in the amps. What do you guys use for 16ga stainless?

 

I just picked up the gas lens and a #7 cup. Gonna try and it this weekend.

 

i would suggest 15 to 40 amps,like i said though its whats comfortable to you,some people who properly weld faster will need more heat,then vice versa.
16 gauge is pretty damn thin ,how long of a bead are you making.why i ask is by the time you go a half inch or more that material is very hot ,which actually will give you an idea about the heat.

 

Thanks for sharing detail information about steel fillers. I normally use ER308 type as they are very easy to fix.

 

I use 309L and 316L for the majority of my steel welding (depends on the actual weld itself). I also use a #12 gas lens for the majority of my welding, however space constraints make me use a #7-8 sometimes.

On the quenching comment, I don't completely agree with that. I've been quenching parts for years, and they get battled tested quite extensively without any failures (knock on wood). I think its all in the prep work, and depends on the parts/steel you're welding. in my case its 304ss.

 

To add to my previous comment ^

I use 308 or 309 for bi metal welding, 316 for ss to ss.