Welding Tips and Tricks

When do use 4043 or 5356?

Google "alcotec filler alloy chart"
Helps pick filler wire based on what alloy you are welding.

Other rules of thumb when not critical:
4043 for casting , high silicon amount
Not 4043 if you will anodize, weld will discolor.

5356 for most other things specially marine stuff.

Very simplified but as said the chart will be a better guide

This may not assist in your choice but I was quite interested in all the various types of fillers so prepared a spreadsheet scheduling many of the more common fillers to include their composition.

When I started, I also wanted to know how many rods one could buy per kilo so I extrapolated from the composition to approximate the number of rods. That then expanded into calculating cost on a pre rod basis. Here is the spreadsheet in case it should be of any use https://cloud.titmus.org/index.php/s/ucZ8eSjTcNLBrVC

I have put some comments in that I had drawn from various sites and forums so if anybody should like credit or would like me to make any amendments, please do let me know.


Andrew

Holy shit that's a nice spread sheet! I need more time than I have to read it. I'm going to be a while.

There is also a blue demon filler metal app that you can select your base materials and it tells you what to use.