Welding Wire

[Arrowmarine]

OK Guys,

Aluminum welding wire. er5356, 4043, other? Why?

[Dutch Peter]

I'm not an expert (seen that sentence before!!) but the guys that produce the stuff are. This is one of them:

Lincoln Electric:
SuperGlaze 4043 is a great choice for the welding of heat-treatable base alloys and more specifically the 6XXX series alloys. It has a lower melting point and more fluidity than the 5XXX series filler alloys and is preferred by welders because of its favorable operating characteristics. ER4043 type wires are also less sensitive to weld cracking with the 6XXX series base alloys. SuperGlaze 4043 is suitable for sustained elevated temperature service, i.e. above 150 deg F (65 deg C).

SuperGlaze 5356 is our most popular aluminum MIG wire. It is a great general purpose filler alloy designed for the welding of 5XXX series alloys when 40,000 psi (276 MPa) tensile strength is not required.

SuperGlaze 5183 is designed to weld high magnesium alloys to meet higher tensile strength requirements. Use on 5083 and 5654 base materials when required tensile strengths are 40,000 psi (276 MPa) or greater. Typical applications are in the marine and cryogenic industries, and high strength structural aluminum fabrication.

SuperGlaze 5556 weld deposits will provide matching tensile strengths for the 5XXX alloys, such as 5083 and 5654. Contains increased amounts of magnesium and manganese.

[Please note: no stocks, not employed, no connections what so ever]

But it all starts ofcourse with the alloy you're welding!!!

[bud 1000]

aluminum is very very alloy specific typicaly you dont weld 5xxx series aluminum with 6xxx series wire and vise versa
in most aplications this rule aplies
one of the few exceptions in aluminum is the 4043 series wire wich can weld 5xxx series and 6xxx series base material very well but if this was to be used in a salt water aplication i would match wire to base metal...... all supliers of base metal will provide you with a list of welding wires you can use with their product and what the advantages and disadvantages of each is