Stainless welding costs? Advice?

[Monomial]

I am looking for someone to make a simple stainless fixture for me. Nothing fancy. I need the following made out of 4" or 100mm thin walled 304 stainless tube. I also need holes drilled in the flanges so I can screw down a stainless plate on the ends of the tubes. I could make do without the 3rd flange and just let the 2 tubes come together in a 'V' if that strange angle at the joint in the middle is too complicated. It also doesn't have to be beautiful. I can live with ugly welding joints as long as it is functional.

 

It is a tumble chamber for mixing powder. I went down to the only stainless welding shop I know and the guy wanted 6000 baht. I thought that was absurd and passed for such a simple device, but I wanted to know if anyone had a feeling for what would be a reasonable fee. I told him 30cm for the length of the legs. I don't have experience with stainless steel, so I really don't know how much 4" stainless pipe costs. Is 60 cm of 4" pipe really expensive? Really thin pipe is fine for this purpose.

 

Is anyone here experienced with stainless welding?  What would be a reasonable charge for the part pictured here?  I am in Rangsit in Northern Bangkok, but I think the part is simple enough it could even be done remotely and shipped.

 

Thank you for any advice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[RichCor]

You'll probably need to specify if you intend the finished part(s) to be welded, ground, polished, and mirror polished. And drilling SS is a tad hard on the drill bits (especially if the person doing it doesn't have that specific trained skillset).

[Damrongsak]

Cheapest stainless would probably be a large 304 exhaust pipe.  Here's a 4 foot piece of thin-wall for about 2,000 baht. Thicker stuff and tubing with a smooth interior gets expensive very quickly.

 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-640240?seid=srese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPk9fmOI_yuVCXxvIr1FgZ3OQEaOGeemv_deFCcZkw2OQVa0c4roDLAaAprnEALw_wcB

 

Do you need a polished interior?  If corrosion will be a problem, the interior should be back purged with Argon while welding or a compound should be put on the back side of the joints to prevent oxidation when welding (look up "stainless steel sugaring").

 

Could you adapt something like this 4 inch 90 degree elbow?  It's a bit thicker than the tube above.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vpe-13044?seid=srese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPn88GgSJ2SIysdOMl1b9w7jm76Zb5qKcFoGK7oohlrxelbGbYZ5gqgaArlREALw_wcB

 

Or perhaps something like this $20 weld elbow:

https://www.stainlesssteelfittings.com/304_Schedule_10_Elbow_90L_stainless_p/w190les4.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPl5E3UXpsqxd2z_98TONEb_Nzv4dDxSpAUkrQW9I2x-aE7f2wWcDrIaAlWkEALw_wcB

 

Alternatively, search for "Sanitary Clamp True Tees and Y Tees ".  That's about what is shown in the OP.

 

Can you fab it out of PVC pipe?

[Monomial]

38 minutes ago, Damrongsak said:

Cheapest stainless would probably be a large 304 exhaust pipe.  Here's a 4 foot piece of thin-wall for about 2,000 baht. Thicker stuff and tubing with a smooth interior gets expensive very quickly.

 

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-640240?seid=srese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPk9fmOI_yuVCXxvIr1FgZ3OQEaOGeemv_deFCcZkw2OQVa0c4roDLAaAprnEALw_wcB

 

Do you need a polished interior?  If corrosion will be a problem, the interior should be back purged with Argon while welding or a compound should be put on the back side of the joints to prevent oxidation when welding (look up "stainless steel sugaring").

 

Could you adapt something like this 4 inch 90 degree elbow?  It's a bit thicker than the tube above.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/vpe-13044?seid=srese1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPn88GgSJ2SIysdOMl1b9w7jm76Zb5qKcFoGK7oohlrxelbGbYZ5gqgaArlREALw_wcB

 

Or perhaps something like this $20 weld elbow:

https://www.stainlesssteelfittings.com/304_Schedule_10_Elbow_90L_stainless_p/w190les4.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwl4v4BRDaARIsAFjATPl5E3UXpsqxd2z_98TONEb_Nzv4dDxSpAUkrQW9I2x-aE7f2wWcDrIaAlWkEALw_wcB

 

Alternatively, search for "Sanitary Clamp True Tees and Y Tees ".  That's about what is shown in the OP.

 

Can you fab it out of PVC pipe?

 

For this application it must be stainless. The powder is highly statically charged and the mixing process exacerbates this. It will stick to any kind of plastic, including PVC. Here is a video of basically how the mixer works, although this one is made of acryllic so you can see what is happening inside.   The idea is when it flips over the powder falls due to gravity, and also mixes horizontally from one side to the other as it crashes together in the middle.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRkRLPnAWh0

 

An elbow might work if it was long enough, but I'd still need someone to weld on the flanges so I could close it up during the mixing process.

 

I'll investigate those ideas further. Although looking at that link from Summit Racing, I wonder if a auto shop might be a better choice than a general purpose welding shop. They may have more use for 4" inch pipe, as it seems to be used in exhaust systems.

 

[RichCor]

14 hours ago, Monomial said:

I wonder if a auto shop might be a better choice than a general purpose welding shop. They may have more use for 4" inch pipe, as it seems to be used in exhaust systems.

Yea, I'd agree, an auto shop or similar, as you're more interested in the 'internal' operation and finish of the part.

[shaemus]

you can buy the stainless elbows etc from DoHome, about 100Bht each, they do have a web site. but it will take patience to find what you want. if there is a Dohome close to you then pop in, they are in the steel pipe section.

 

6000 Bht is well over the top. so find another welder. any gate shop/fabricator will be using TIG.

 

i found this

https://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?spm=a2o4m.searchlist.search.10.549b756f7kAsSS&q=tri clamp sanitary&_keyori=ss&clickTrackInfo=textId--5487838149703864519__abId--154857__pvid--b5ea51c1-cb59-4bd7-94fa-8294d1c0d5dd&from=suggest_normal&sugg=tri clamp sanitary_9_1

 

 

happy mixing

 

shaemus

[hackjam]

I need a stainless handrail fitted on stairway, approx4m long, just bolted to wall only, can anyone recommend a place where I can get this done, Jomtiem area in Pattaya?