There are many different types of stainless steel weld studs. Knowing what is required and if a standard type of weld stud will do the trick or if a custom designed stud is required will be critical.
In most cases, a standard size of weld stud in stainless steel will be readily available from specialized stud weld suppliers. Shopping with a general contractor supplier or an industrial supply company may not always provide the selection and the inventory that will be required for a large project.
When ordering stainless steel weld studs, there are a few basics to keep in mind. Verifying all information before placing the order is always an important aspect to double check, avoiding order errors and catching any omissions on the order that may slow down the job.
Length, Body Diameter, and Thread Pitch
With any type of weld studs in mild steel or stainless steel, it will be essential to know the length of the stud, the body diameter, and the thread pitch. The length of the stud will be the final length after the stud welding process. Keep in mind that with most of the drawn arc stud welds there will be a slight reduction in the length after welding. This should be provided on the specification sheet for the manufacturer or distributor.
The body diameter is the diameter of the body of the weld stud. For CD welding this is typically less than 5/8th of an inch while for drawn arc welding it is over 5/8th of an inch.
The thread pitch in standard applications is the number of threads per inch along the stainless steel weld studs. The higher the number, the finer the thread. The various thread pitch options are available in different lengths and diameters for the weld studs.
When ordering metric weld studs, keep in mind the thread pitch is the distance between the ridges or the crests of the threads that are next to each other. Again, the higher the number, the finer the thread type.