Austenitic-ferritic stainless steel wire electrode for GMA (MIG/MAG) welding of dissimilar steels and and depositing buffer layers on ferritic steels. It features high resistance to cracking and toughness, is therefore suited for joining difficult to weld steels and depositing stress-relaxing buffer layers on crack sensitive base metals. Weld metal is non-scaling up to 1100°C. Especially used in die and tool repair, crack repairs in difficult to weld steels, gear teeth repair and rebuilding, buffer layer application on cutting blades. Suitable also for welding galvanized steel plates.