Marine Stainless Wire vs Stick
ER316L wire (MIG/TIG) vs E316L-16 stick for 316L marine and chemical stainless. Same chemistry, different process.
Key Differences
| Attribute | ER316L | E316L-16 |
|---|---|---|
| Process | MIG (GMAW) or TIG (GTAW) | Stick (SMAW) |
| Weld Quality | TIG: Highest / MIG: Very good | Good with slag cleanup |
| Back Purge | Required for TIG, recommended for MIG | Not possible (flux provides some protection) |
| Food/Pharma Grade | TIG preferred for smooth finish | Possible but requires grinding |
| Field Repair | Needs gas setup | Just a stick welder |
| Speed | MIG: Fast / TIG: Slow | Moderate |
| Cost per Joint | Gas + wire (lower per pound) | Rods only (simpler setup) |
Use ER316L when:
Use E316L-16 when:
How ER316L and E316L-16 Work Together
Same decision framework as ER309L vs E309L-16. Choose based on equipment, access, and speed requirements. For pharmaceutical and food-grade work, TIG with ER316L produces the smoothest welds with no slag contamination risk. For heavy chemical processing fabrication, MIG ER316L is faster. For field maintenance on marine equipment, E316L-16 stick goes anywhere.
Common Mistake With Marine Stainless Wire
TIG welding 316L stainless without back purge and expecting good corrosion resistance. The inside of the weld oxidizes (sugars) without back-side argon purge, creating a chromium-depleted zone that corrodes rapidly. Always back purge 316L TIG welds in corrosion-critical applications.
Data sourced from .