Welding Tips and Tricks

Hi:
As I understand most beginner tig welders use 3/32 tungsten.
So what size of filler should I use with it?

Welcome to the forum lakehunter.

Lakehunter
Welcome to the forum! Not knowing your application, I would recommend 3/32" as general purpose. You can use any size you would like up to 1/8". Start with 1/16" and 3/32". The wire size you choose will determine your fillet size/how much you need to dip into the puddle. If you pick to big a filler you will have problems melting it because of the amperage limit of 3/32"
I wouldn't say that beginners use 3/32" on purpose necessarily, but most machines are set up for this size so it is probably by proxy.
Jonathan

lakehunter wrote:Hi:
As I understand most beginner tig welders use 3/32 tungsten.
So what size of filler should I use with it?

What amperage machine do you have? and what thickness of metal???

~John

Welcome to the forum.

I use 3/32 most of the time, I weld for a living, I use primarily .031-.045 sometimes .062 (1/16). Wire size will depend on your application as has been stated.

Wes917 wrote:I use 3/32 most of the time, I weld for a living, I use primarily .031-.045 sometimes .062 (1/16). Wire size will depend on your application as has been stated.

Hi, Wes. I've used 0.045 at around 7 Amps, but didn't know filler rod came smaller than that. Are you using MIG wire to get filler at that size? What are you welding with 0.031 rod?

Cheers,
Richard

RichardH wrote:

Wes917 wrote:I use 3/32 most of the time, I weld for a living, I use primarily .031-.045 sometimes .062 (1/16). Wire size will depend on your application as has been stated.

Hi, Wes. I've used 0.045 at around 7 Amps, but didn't know filler rod came smaller than that. Are you using MIG wire to get filler at that size? What are you welding with 0.031 rod?

Cheers,
Richard

Yes it comes in .031 in standard 3'ers. I used it some in an aerospace repair facility I used to work in, and now for parts for ships when the wps calls for it.

I use 3/32 tungsten (thoriated and pure) almost exclusively. Filler from .035 MIG wire to 1/8", er70, 308, 309, 4043, 5356.

3/32 is what is supplied at work. For heavy sections of aluminum, I keep 1/8" pure and fittings in my personal box. I also keep 1/16" thoriated and fittings in my box for unusually thin work.

However, 3/32 tungsten with rods from 1/16 to 1/8 is my daily bread-and-butter, and works fine 99% of the time.

Steve S

welding supply.com sells tig filler rods down to 0.030" in 3' lengths.