Tig Welding and filler wire.

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Right now I'm taking some Saturday classes for welding. have done stick, MIG (even though I already knew mig) and now I'm doing TIG.. I love TIG, it's challenging for me and I honestly need that with my ADD lol!  In school I just pretty much run beads all day to get my technique down, as of the last couple of weeks I've been fabricating some little things (triangles, squares) to work on corners, and such.. One thing I've noticed is that the materials weld together nicely with no filler wire, so do I need filler wire all the time? if not when does filler wire need to be added?www.thefusionsolution.com
Reply:Filler wire usually contains some compounds that help with contaminants. It also helps with strength by building up the bead area. Usually joints with no filler are weak because there isn't enough material there especially with fillet joints.Some materials can be welded without filler with good tight joint prep. Often SS is done this way. Other materials like some alum alloys almost require a filler to prevent cracking issues while cooling. The weld changes the composition of the base metal by "cooking out" some additives. The filler helps to replace them.Joints with filler are usually the norm in most cases..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWFiller wire usually contains some compounds that help with contaminants. It also helps with strength by building up the bead area. Usually joints with no filler are weak because there isn't enough material there especially with fillet joints.Some materials can be welded without filler with good tight joint prep. Often SS is done this way. Other materials like some alum alloys almost require a filler to prevent cracking issues while cooling. The weld changes the composition of the base metal by "cooking out" some additives. The filler helps to replace them.Joints with filler are usually the norm in most cases.
Reply:Originally Posted by speedfreak87So, if I were to make a box (12"x12"x12") out of aluminum, it would be best to use filler?   ( I know stupid question)
Reply:What grade alum? Sounds like a silly answer, but not all alum is weldable. 4043 and 5356 will take care of quite a few alloys, but not all. Someone here posted up a link to a good chart that listed basic alum alloys, whether they were weldable or not and what fillers are recomended for what uses. I'll see if I can dig it up if I saved the link.In the mean time here's few links that might help.http://www.alcotec.com/us/en/educati...um-Welding.cfmhttp://www.alcotec.com/us/en/educati...ller-alloy.cfmThe basic site has a lot of other info that might be useful.http://www.alcotec.com/us/en/educati...e/qa/index.cfm.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by BurningMetalYES...... it is not easy to make an autogenous weld on aluminum.  On steel, you can easily get one piece to flow into the other without adding filler.  typically, you can tack up steel without using any filler.  you'll be frustrating yourself if you try doing that on aluminum.  Use filler.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWWhat grade alum? Sounds like a silly answer, but not all alum is weldable. 4043 and 5356 will take care of quite a few alloys, but not all. Someone here posted up a link to a good chart that listed basic alum alloys, whether they were weldable or not and what fillers are recomended for what uses. I'll see if I can dig it up if I saved the link.In the mean time here's few links that might help.http://www.alcotec.com/us/en/educati...um-Welding.cfmhttp://www.alcotec.com/us/en/educati...ller-alloy.cfmThe basic site has a lot of other info that might be useful.http://www.alcotec.com/us/en/educati...e/qa/index.cfm