Ever heard of AWS E312 electrode? 1

[trainguy]

Does this sound familiar to anyone, or is it a typo. error?

AWS E312 (stainless steel) electrode

If it exists, is there any difference with an E308 stainless steel electrode?

Thanks in advance...

tg

 

[metengr]

Yes. The AWS 5.4 E312-15,16 welding electrode is a 29Cr/9Ni composition, and was used for welding high strength steels to heat resistant steels, and for joining dissimilar metals (steel to 3XX ss). The weld deposit is normally two phase - ferrite in austenite. According to my sources, E312 should not be used for service temperature above 750 deg F.

E308 contains approximately 19.5 Cr/10Ni. It is typically used to join 304ss - not for joining dissimilar metals.

 

[unclesyd]

Adding to meteng's post, E312 SS is reincarnated as a universal welding alloy. The one we used was AllState 275. It was hard to keep as it ran so good on the “cracker boxes”.
It was quite versatile in this respect. It was excellent for welding HT materials like the 41xx, 43xx and all the B7 bolt and stud materials. I will not mention one of our primary uses, as it would raise a few hackles.
There are the do's and don'ts as posted, but we operated a tremendous number of welded components/parts at 600°F with excursions to 900°F.
We used it to butter some tool steels. Especially D2 tool steel.
Most of the proprietary electrodes have a better coating than the AWS spec rods.
I still keep a few in my rod box, 312 SS that is.