---
title: Stainless Steel Welding in Reno | Wolf Machine
url: https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/stainless-steel-welding/
business: Wolf Machine & Fabrication, Inc.
address: 4812 Longley Ln, Reno, NV 89502
phone: (775) 359-5570
hours: Shop Monday-Friday 7:00 am-3:30 pm; closed Saturday and Sunday
type: Metal and plastic fabrication and machining (custom and CNC machining, welding, metal and plastic fabrication, gearbox and part repair, align boring, metal spray)
---

[Photo: Stock photo: TIG (gas tungsten arc) welding, close up]

- [Home](https://wolfmachinenv.com/)
- [Services](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/)
- Stainless steel welding

# Stainless steel welding that keeps the metal stainless

We weld stainless steel at our Reno shop, including strainers, baskets, tubes and plant parts. The goal of a stainless weld is not only strength, it is to keep the corrosion resistance that made you choose stainless in the first place.

[Photo: A tall conical strainer of perforated sheet, seam-welded and welded to a flat ring flange]

A tall conical strainer of round-hole perforated stainless sheet, seam-welded and welded to a flat ring flange, from our gallery.

Stock photo: TIG (gas tungsten arc) welding, close up

Stainless resists rust because of a thin chromium-rich film on the surface. Welding can damage that film, so the joint is where stainless parts most often fail in service. This page covers the weld, the heat and the cleanup. How stainless machines is a separate subject on the material page.

## At a glance

- Heat kept down to protect corrosion resistance
- Clean joints, with tools used only on stainless
- Strainers and baskets seam-welded to flanges
- Stainless parts for food processing plants
- Ventilation and fume control as a standard part of the work

I have used Wolf Machine several times over the past few years for fabricating and repair of parts on my ultralight aircraft. [...] These guys are great to deal with. I wouldn't take my projects anywhere else.

James B. · Google review, September 2023 [Leave us a Google review](https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJVWVOfCI_mYARibcFMPsDEKc)

## Why heat is the enemy of stainless corrosion resistance

Stainless gets its name from chromium. When the metal sits too long in a certain heat range during welding, chromium can combine with carbon near the weld, and the area beside the weld loses some of its protection. This is called sensitization, and it is the reason a stainless weld can rust or corrode in service even though the base plate does not.

The practical answer is controlled heat: stringer passes instead of wide weaves, time to cool between passes, and filler suited to the grade. Low-carbon grades are also chosen for welded parts for this reason. A [heat-affected zone](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/heat-affected-zone/) is always there. The job is keeping it narrow.

## Cleanliness and finishing the joint

Carbon steel dust, grinding dust or a steel wire brush can embed iron in a stainless surface and cause rust spots later. Stainless is cleaned and ground with tools kept for stainless only.

After welding, the heat tint around a weld is a sign of a disturbed surface. In many food and washdown applications the joint is cleaned back and passivated, a general practice that restores the protective film. Tell us at quote time if a part has a finish requirement, so the plan includes it.

## Distortion and thin sheet

Stainless expands more than carbon steel and conducts heat poorly, so it warps easily, especially in thin sheet. Perforated strainer sheet seam-welded into a cone and then to a flange is a good example: the welds have to be placed and sequenced so the shape stays round and the flange stays flat.

## Food-plant parts and fume control

Our services list includes steam tubes, titanium screws, handles and stainless steel knives made for a food processing plant. That kind of work shows why joints must be smooth and clean.

Welding stainless creates fume that can contain hexavalent chromium, which is why shops ventilate and follow the exposure rules in OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1026. You can read more in our post on the [OSHA rules behind stainless welding](https://wolfmachinenv.com/blog/osha-rules-behind-stainless-welding/).

- Send the grade if it is stamped or on the drawing
- Say whether the part sees food, water, chemicals or heat
- Include photos of the break or a drawing of the new part

### Sources

- [Stainless steel (overview)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel) (2026-10-18)
- [OSHA 29 CFR 1910.1026, Chromium (VI)](https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1026) (2026-10-18)

### Stainless welding jobs

- Perforated strainers and baskets welded to flanges
- Tanks and chutes for plant use
- Tube, handle and fitting repairs
- Plant parts for washdown areas
- Welded stainless assemblies built from a drawing

### Typical parts

- Strainers and baskets
- Steam tubes
- Handles
- Chutes
- Brackets

### Materials

[Stainless steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/stainless-steel/)

[All materials we machine](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/)

### How to send us the job

Have a print? Attach it to the quote request. No print? Photos of every face, the sizes you know and the machine the part came from are a good start, and you can bring the part in.

[Request a quote](#quote)

[What to put on a drawing](https://wolfmachinenv.com/guides/what-to-put-on-a-drawing/)

### Talk to the shop

[(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570)

| Monday to Friday | 7:00 am - 3:30 pm |
|---|---|
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed |

[Request a quote](#quote)

### Related

- [Welding, all types](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/welding/)
- [Stainless steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/materials/stainless-steel/)
- [The OSHA rules behind welding stainless steel](https://wolfmachinenv.com/blog/osha-rules-behind-stainless-welding/)
- [Strainers, baskets and tanks](https://wolfmachinenv.com/parts/strainers-and-tanks/)
- [Food processing and dry product plants](https://wolfmachinenv.com/industries/food-and-dry-product-plants/)

### Questions about this service

- [Can you weld aluminum?](https://wolfmachinenv.com/faq/can-you-weld-aluminum/)

### Terms on this page

[Heat-affected zone (HAZ)](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/heat-affected-zone/)

[The full glossary](https://wolfmachinenv.com/glossary/)

## Work from the shop

[Photo: Looking into a perforated strainer basket: six welded flat-bar spokes meeting at a welded center hub]

Job 05 Looking into a perforated strainer basket: six welded flat-bar spokes meeting at a welded center hub.

[Photo: A tall conical strainer of perforated sheet, seam-welded and welded to a flat ring flange]

Job 06 A tall conical strainer of perforated sheet, seam-welded and welded to a flat ring flange.

[Photo: A custom-fabricated steel tank with a domed head, a bolted mid-body flange and nozzles, installed in a plant]

Job 04 A custom-fabricated steel tank with a domed head, a bolted mid-body flange and nozzles, installed in a plant.

[See all our work](https://wolfmachinenv.com/gallery/)

## Related services

- [Welding, all types](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/welding/)
- [Aluminum welding](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/aluminum-welding/)
- [Cast iron welding repair](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/cast-iron-welding/)
- [Metal fabrication](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/metal-fabrication/)
- [Plastic fabrication and machining](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/plastic-fabrication-and-machining/)
- [Automated machines and fixtures](https://wolfmachinenv.com/services/automated-machines-and-fixtures/)

## Stainless steel welding questions

Still have a question? Call [(775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570), Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm.

### Why does stainless sometimes rust beside a weld?

Heat from welding can pull chromium out of the metal near the weld, which lowers its resistance to corrosion. Controlled heat, suitable filler and cleaning after welding reduce the risk.

### Can you weld stainless to carbon steel?

Yes, with filler chosen for the combination. Tell us which two metals are being joined and what the part does, and we will say how we would build the joint.

### Do you build stainless strainers and baskets?

Yes. Perforated stainless strainers seam-welded to flanges are part of our gallery. See the strainers and tanks page for more.

[Photo: Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying]

## Request a quote

Tell us what you need, attach a drawing or photos of the part, and we will get back to you during shop hours. Free consultations; prompt estimates.

[Call (775) 359-5570](tel:(775)%20359-5570)

- From your specifications, drawings or samples. We can also assist you in designing your product or part.
- Free consultations and prompt estimates
- Stands behind the work: Our rates are very competitive and our quality is second-to-none. Wolf Machine stands behind the work we perform.
- Company accounts: all major credit cards, or we can open an account for your company

Shop hours Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Send your request any time and we will get back to you during shop hours.

Stock photo: a lathe turning a bar, hot chips flying