[notfarnow]

I bought a Lincoln 140C (110V) MIG welder last year. I have been a welding fool since then... I just love the thing and have had some really fun and challenging projects, like welding up a 115 liter veggie tank for my Mercedes.

Anyway, my big project over the next month or so is doing some re-rigging and rearranging on my 35 yr old Chrysler 22' sailboat. Part of that involves rearranging the stanchions at the stern, and incorporating a traveler into them, as well as a mount for my bbq and swimming ladder.

I have some 1" 316 SS tubing, and I'm confident I'll be able to make the gradual bends I need. What I'm not so sure about is the welding. I'm guessing I'll have to get a different wire, but what about shielding gas (I have 75/25 CO/argon)?

And what about technique? Is there anything particularly difficult about welding SS? If it's really specialized, I'd like to at least bend everything, line it all up, then tack it together to bring to a pro for final welding. If I just wanted to tack it together, could I use my regular wire & 75/25 gas?