ALUMINUM FILLER METAL SELECTION
FILLER METAL IN STOCK NOW AT WELDMONGER.COM
There are hundreds of different aluminum alloys.
So then how do you know how to select the right filler metal for each alloy and also different combinations?
Fortunately, there are Aluminum Filler metal charts that can guide you to the right tig rod choice.
3 Aluminum Filler Rod chart resources that can be easily found and downloaded for free are:
https://www.hobartbrothers.com/downloads/aluminum_selecti_1lOo.pdf
https://esab.com/index.cfm/_api/render/file/?method=inline&fileID=7FEFED6B-E635-42AB-9B2D928603B0E235
https://www.washingtonalloy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/aluminum-selection-chart-.pdf
With any filler metal selection chart, it is important to read all the footnotes. ( a good practice with all technical documents, codes, and specifications)
TIG rods don't always match the base metal exactly.
TIG filler metal is often designed using a slightly different chemistry than the base metal they are intended for. Small tweaks in the chemistry can make certain TIG rods less crack sensitive than an exact chemistry match would be.
A great example of this that you will notice on an aluminum filler metal chart is 6061.
6061 is almost never welded using matching 6061 filler metal. f
There are several aluminum filler rods that can be used to weld 6061.
4043 and 5356 are the main two choices. But the footnotes instruct you to use 4043 if service temperature is above 150F. and 5356 if the part will be anodized after welding.
Sometimes filler metal is determined by a welding procedure or other document.
But other times filler metal selection is a matter of personal preference.
The aluminum filler metal charts listed above can be very helpful
