Welding Tips and Tricks

Can I get a breakdown of aluminum filler rods and their uses and benefits???

Hope this helps.
http://duramaxdiesels.com/forum/showthread.php?t=10236

Thanx!

I have always been taught that 4043 and 5056 cover most needs. You can tell them apart by dropping them on a table. The 5056 (being harder) makes a sharper sound, and the 4043 makes a dull thud sound.
The chart that Jim posted the link to really covers everything in detail though.

Use the 5056 if you are gonna have the welded piece anodized. Any other filler will turn black. Found that out the hard way. The real hard way.

Why does the other filler turn black? I found that out the hard way too

Just wondering what is the best filler for 5052 is? At our shop we normally run 4043. Just thinking about trying something else. Not to concerned if it turns black after anadizing as the 4043 we use already does and the customers don't care. Anything better as far as strenght and apperance?

there are many aluminum rods out there! i use 5356, 4047, 4043, 4145, 4008. if you weld cast aluminum 4008 is for A356. 4145 is for 319, and 355. i never used it, but 4009 is for A357. if you dont know the alloy 4043 is a good bet. it covers most alloys. 4047 is acceptable where 4043 is ok. 4047 has like 12% silicon and has a wet flow characteristics that let it wet in and flow nice especially with porosity in cast aluminum. 4145 does this too but according to the alotec filler rod chart has some disadvantages. color match and corrosion resistance are two. 5356 works for 520 and 535 aluminum/magnesium alloys. some people call this al-mag. the big down fall for most people is the cost of the odd ball rods, especially if you have to get them in 10 lbs box.