Welding Tips and Tricks

I want to start practicing Tig on some aluminum. I have to go see what the shop has for a tig machine but my question for now is I have some scrap aluminum. Not sure what grade it is but I am in a aviation maintenance unit so most likely 6061. So would I just use 6061 filler material or does that depend on the type of tig i'll be using?

Filler material choice is based on the metal you will be welding. You will find there are several different rods that you can chose from for that base metal. Each will give the weld slightly different characteristics. Or will act slightly different as you weld.

pavetim wrote:I want to start practicing Tig on some aluminum. I have to go see what the shop has for a tig machine but my question for now is I have some scrap aluminum. Not sure what grade it is but I am in a aviation maintenance unit so most likely 6061. So would I just use 6061 filler material or does that depend on the type of tig i'll be using?

http://www.alcotec.com/us/en/education/ ... ection.cfm

http://www.alcotec.com/us/en/support/up ... _Chart.pdf

print out and tape together the above chart

7075 is found in some a/c machined parts, 2024 may be in some sheet and machined parts;
both are not weldable, by common means.

I use 5356 for most of my work with 6061. 4043 will also work and is easy to find.

Oh yeah from what I've seen there are the most popular ones of 5356 and 4043. I have some 5356 around so will probably just use that. Maybe experiment with some 4043 and see how different it acts.