ED035217 - Lincoln Electric Blue Max 312 Stainless TIG Rod - 1/16 Inch - 10lb Tube

Premium Grade ER312 Stainless Steel TIG Rod for Critical Repairs

The Lincoln Electric Blue Max® 312 TIG Rod (SKU: ED035217) is a high-performance stainless steel filler metal designed for the most demanding maintenance and repair applications. Classified as ER312 under AWS A5.9 standards, this rod is engineered with a unique chemical composition containing approximately 29% Chromium and 9% Nickel. This specific alloy balance results in a microstructure that is rich in ferrite, providing exceptional resistance to weld cracking, even under conditions of high restraint or dilution.

Often referred to in the industry as the "universal" electrode, the ER312 grade is the preferred choice for welding base metals of unknown composition. Its high tensile strength—typically exceeding 116,000 psi (800 MPa)—makes it significantly stronger than standard 308 or 316 stainless grades. This strength, combined with its ductility, allows it to serve as an excellent buffer layer for hardfacing or for joining dissimilar steels, such as carbon steel to stainless steel, or abrasion-resistant plates to mild steel structural members.

In industrial MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Operations) settings, the Lincoln Blue Max 312 is indispensable. It excels in applications involving tool steels, die steels, and spring steels, where standard fillers would fail due to cracking. The 1/16-inch (1.6mm) diameter offers precise control for thin-to-medium gauge materials, ensuring a clean, sound weld deposit with minimal spatter and excellent slag detachment characteristics (when applicable to coated variants, though this is a solid TIG rod ensuring pure deposits). The rod requires 100% Argon shielding gas and operates on DCEN (Direct Current Electrode Negative) polarity.

Technical Specifications:

• AWS Classification: ER312
• Tensile Strength: ~120,000 psi
• Yield Strength: ~88,000 psi
• Elongation: ~25%
• Ferrite Number: ~50

For shops handling a diverse range of steel repairs, from cast steel components to high-carbon shafts, the Lincoln ED035217 provides the metallurgical assurance needed for durable, long-lasting welds.