I need to make a set of dies to be used in a press. They'll basically be for dimpling stainless steel. Being broke, and cheap by nature, it occurred to me that plain old mild steel will hold up fine, but I don't want the face to distort over time (this hopefully will be a production tool, used repeatedly, not a one-off) Now, the catch. I do NOT have a toolpost grinder, and the contour is trickier than I'd like to do by hand while spinning on a lathe. Any recommendations for a filler rod (TIG) that would offer fair resistance, or a stick rod that can be machined, yet wear better against stainless than mild steel?

My thought was to face it with a 300 series TIG filler, decent thickness (3/32 thick, post machining) which would work harden before it distorts unacceptably. Thoughts?