Filling plasma cutter kerf on stainless

I recently acquired some stainless cutouts 4" diameter by 3/4" thick. The cutouts all have a =BC" length by 1/16" wide cut where the cutter has started and worked its way out to leave a perfect circle in the work. I have TIG/brazed these closed in the past and have been successful. However the stay silv/phos 5% brazing rod is not a good color match. I'd like to TIG these closed with stainless rod or find a better color match brazing or solder rod. If I TIG them, do I need to bevel out the edges of the kerf cut out a little to be able to weld the area closed? I like the brazing option, it is so much easier, but my welding supply dealer didn't offer any options. TIA

-Mike

Reply to
mlcorson
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It doesn't sound like there would be any problems TIG welding, As long as you can reach the bottom with the tungsten you'll be fine.

Richard

-Mike

Reply to
AMW

Just die grind out the top of the kerf a little to remove the carbide skin of the kerf. If you try to weld through the carbide skin you will likely get some porosity in your welds. A narrow Tungsten carbide burr on a die grinder will work fine.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

One thing I have yet to try was a technique shown over at the SolarFlux web site. In the video, the fellow brushs some of the solarflux on the plasmacut edges so that he doesn't have to grid them down. Seems that the backside flux has another advantage when dealing with plasma cut stainless. I do the same thing with Al when O/A welding plasma cut stock.

Reply to
cl

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