Don't use gas welding rods for tig

[Steve]

Mig wire works fine for Tig. I use it when I need small diameter stainless filler. I have never noticed any difference. The AWS designation on what I have is identical to Tig filler.

What rods do you specifically use for gas welding? In the past, I just used tig rods for gas welding.

I use both 1/8 and 1/16 RG45 welding rods for mild steel. I'm using the Cobra 2000 (aka Henrob / Dillon torch). Those RG45 rods sure do not work well when tigging.

I kind of figured out the problem with the welds as I used a rod on a test piece of metal and then an autogenous weld on the same test. The autogenous weld was beautiful but the weld that had RG45 rod added was really cratered and porous.

I am of the opinion that tig welding is a very precise method of welding and that rules need to be followed. I will no longer even try to tig weld using gas rods. I am also of the opinion that gas welding is more forgiving and you can bend the rules and use tig rods.

[everlastsupport]

As well, in a pinch you can also use your aluminum MIG wire with the TIG.

[blasphemy000]

For welding sheet metal or other thin steel solid MIG wire works really well. Like the OP said though it is very hard to control being so thin. The mild steel TIG rods that I have are ER70S2 where as the solid MIG wire I got is ER70S6, I think that designates a higher silicon content, but it does work on thin steel very well if you can hold on to the thin wire. And just like using the ER70S6 MIG wire for thin steel, aluminum MIG wire works great on thin aluminum as well.

[jerky]

As well, in a pinch you can also use your aluminum MIG wire with the TIG.

or even better, when welding aluminum if you have any scraps or cutoffs of the actual base metal your welding, that is the best filler. sometimes it can be a pain working the scrap into something you can feed into the puddle, but putting base material back is the best. if you know, u have ran out of rod.

[everlastsupport]

Done that with steel. The same steel, you can not get any better than that. I had a trailer bed (expanded metal) and I use the X piece to finish it off, I was to lazy to walk over and get more filler rod.

[sportbike]

or even better, when welding aluminum if you have any scraps or cutoffs of the actual base metal your welding, that is the best filler. sometimes it can be a pain working the scrap into something you can feed into the puddle, but putting base material back is the best. if you know, u have ran out of rod.

For some alloys (including 6000 series) this is NOT recommend as it can lead to hot crasking issues. Welding of 6061 for example is usually done with 4043 for thinner materials, or 5356 filler for higher strength on thicker sections.

It may not be an issue for decorative items or items where stress is not a concern, however filler metals as recommended by the Aluminum Association or similar should be used for anything that is load bearing.

Also not a good idea for 4130 steel that will not be heat trreated after welding.