Stainless steel welding: railings, sinks, handrails

What the price depends on

The work is charged by the hour. Time goes on preparation (taking things apart, cleaning, fitting), the welding itself and finishing the weld afterwards: grinding, polishing, pickling. On site, at a railing in a stairwell, everything takes longer than on a workshop bench. Hourly rates are in the table.

Consumables are paid separately: filler rod, argon, pickling paste, discs and pads. New stainless parts (tube, posts, flanges) are bought separately too, and can be ordered to the measurements the handyman takes.

What it costs and how to book: worktop fitting in Warsaw.

How stainless differs from ordinary steel

For household jobs, stainless is usually TIG welded under argon. The weld comes out neat and the heat goes exactly where it’s needed, more precisely than with a stick electrode. Thin railing tube or sink sheet is easy to burn through or distort, so the welder works in short runs and lets the metal cool.

What protects stainless from corrosion is a thin oxide film on the surface. Welding leaves coloured heat tint beside the seam, and the protection there is weaker. That’s why the weld gets treated: cleaned, pickled with a special paste and rinsed thoroughly. Skip that and it can start to rust, especially outdoors.

The other common cause of rust is stray particles of ordinary steel. If the stainless was cleaned with the same brush or disc as a rusty angle bar, iron is left on the surface and that’s what rusts. Stainless gets its own set of tools.

Grades differ too. For indoor railings and kitchen furniture AISI 304 is usually enough. Near a pool with chlorine, and in other harsh conditions, 316 is the choice because it copes better with chlorides. The filler is matched to the grade of the parent metal.

Safety first

Welding throws sparks, UV light and fumes. Fumes from stainless contain chromium compounds, so ventilation matters: an extractor indoors, or at least open windows and a through draught. Nothing flammable should be nearby, no rugs, wooden panelling or plastic sheeting. Pickling paste contains acids. It’s handled with gloves and goggles, and rinsed off so that it doesn’t reach stone stairs or windowsills. Keep children and pets out of the way while the work is going on.

How the job works

1. From the photos, the welder decides whether to weld on site or take the part back to the workshop.
2. The area is dismantled and degreased, and an old cracked weld is cut out if needed.
3. Parts are fitted and tacked, then the geometry is checked: post plumb, handrail straight.
4. TIG welding under argon. Tubes may be purged with argon from inside so the root doesn’t oxidise on the back.
5. The weld is ground and finished to match the rest of the surface: brushed, mirror or matt.
6. Pickling paste goes on, is left for the set time and washed off with water.

Common mistakes

• Stainless welded with an ordinary mild-steel electrode, and the weld rusts.
• Heat tint left on because it “looks nice”. A season later there are orange stains.
• Cleaned with the same brush that was used on an old rusty gate.
• Thin tube overheated and bent, so the handrail is no longer straight.
• A poolside railing made from 304 when it really needed 316.
• Pickling paste dripped onto a stone step and left a dull patch.

What to prepare

• Close-up photos of the weld area and one of the whole structure.
• The steel grade, or any paperwork for the railing or sink, if you have it.
• A 230 V socket near the work, or a note on where the nearest one is.
• Clear space around the job, nothing flammable, and a covered wooden floor.
• The finish you want: brushed to match, polished, or just strong.

Frequently asked questions

How to order

Describe in the app what broke and what it’s made of, and add photos. Handymen near you will send offers with their own rate and timing. Compare them by reviews and pick one; only that person sees your address.

You pay the handyman directly and they issue the invoice. They stand behind their own weld: if it cracks or rusts because of how they finished it, they’ll redo it. Metal fatigue elsewhere, old damage and other people’s welds are not on them.

TIG-weld stainless and know how to deal with heat tint? Create a tradesperson profile and pick up welding jobs in your town. Everyone here works for themselves, so the business form and paperwork are your choice.