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MIG Welding Electrode Wire Selection Guide Chart and the Basics
To start the table/chart below shows the electrodes covered on this page. It is a list of the most commonly used wires, gasses and what base metrals they weld. If you want to learn a lot more then keep reading for more information!
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Stainless Steel Grades 301, 302, 304, 305, and 308. ER308L Stainless Steel Grade 309 Welding Carbon Steel to ER309L Stainless Steel or Low Alloy Steels Stainless Steel Grades 304,305, 308, 310, 312, 314, ER316L 316, 317, 321, 347 and 348. Aluminum Grades 2014, 3003, 3004, 4043, 5052, ER4043 6061, 6062 and 6063. It may also be used to weld cast Aluminum grades 43, 214, 355 and 356. Aluminum Grades 5050, 5052, 5056, 5083, 5086, ER5356 5154, 5356, 5454, 5456.
ER308LSi
ER316LSi
C25 (25% Carbon Dioxide and 75% Argon) or 100% Co2 C2 or 2% Carbon Dioxide and 98% Argon C2 or 2% Carbon Dioxide and 98% Argon C2 or 2% Carbon Dioxide and 98% Argon 100%Argon 100%Argon
MIG Welding Electrodes Names and Proper GMAW Filler Wire Terminology
MIG welding electrodes are known by a variety of names but all mean the same thing. This is typical welding terminology slang vs. what is the correct or proper name used for the process or electrode. We have come to accept the slang terms but if you are looking for something specific then you need to know the exact name to search for. MIG welding electrodes are officially called GMAW electrodes or Gas Metal Arc Welding electrodes.
The Details of Gas Metal Arc Welding Electrodes, Wire Designations and What You Need to Know!
Electrodes designations are a mystery for most welders. They just seem to be familiar with a single electrode and that is the ER70S-6. The majority of welders only know is that it is used for welding most carbon steels. The manufactures of these electrodes use a simple code to identify the type of electrode. The designations used and covered here are AWS or American Welding Society designations. There are many other designations for the same electordes depending on the group who writers the designation. AWS designations are the most commonly used so
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MIG Welding Electrodes, Wire and Filler Metals Selection Guide for ...
http://www.gowelding.org/Electrodes_MIG_Welding.html
that is what is being covered. The designation is pretty standard but there are some basics you need to understand to know what the wire is meant for. The most obvious is that most MIG welding electrodes are also designed for TIG welding. Hey, filler metal is filler metal as long as the right shielding gas is used. That is why you see the designation ER and it stands for electrode or filler rod that can be used in either MIG or TIG welding. In TIG welding it can be either used by adding it manually by hand or in the case of orbital welding it is feed into the joint by a feeder system like a MIG welder. That is with the exception that a robot is doing the welding. Here are the electrodes:
6- The amount of deoxidizing agent and cleansing agent on the electrode. This is a copper coating on the electrode and there are different types too.
Si- (Optional) Sometime Si is added and that means high silicone content. Basically it helps the weld wash into the metal better. Kind of like turning up the heat and holding the sides longer.
ER309L and ER309Si MIG Welding Electrode Designation and Uses (Welding Dissimilar Metals)
The 309 series has a multi use designation because it is used to weld stainless steel to mild or stainless to carbon or low alloy steels. It welds stainless steel grades 304 through 310 when needed or welds dissimilar metals together where needed. The down side of using this electrode to weld steel to stainless is that the weld appearance is rough. It does the job but no matter how high you turn up the machine it feels like it is running cold. No matter what you do the welds seems to look rough compared to welding stainless steel to stainless steel. The gas used most of the time is the same C2 or 2% carbon dioxide and 98% Argon. There are many other choices (some are better) for gas but the C2 is the most common used. Here is the electrode designation:
ER- An electrode or filler rod that is used in either a MIG wire feed or TIG welding. 309 The grade of the Stainless Steel Electrode. L Low Carbon. Si- (Optional) Sometime Si is added and that means high silicone content. Basically it helps the weld wash into the metal better. Kind of like turning up the heat and holding the sides longer.
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31/10/2013 2:13 AM
MIG Welding Electrodes, Wire and Filler Metals Selection Guide for ...
http://www.gowelding.org/Electrodes_MIG_Welding.html
Now there are other choices but is rare to need any other electrodes. As for gas choices it is always 100% Argon gas. If you are welding aluminum thicker then 1/2 of an inch then you may want to try a Argon Helium mix. In most cases 100% Argon is what most shipyards, power plants and fab shops use no matter what the thickness of the aluminum is. Here are the aluminum electrode designations:
For most fabrication shops the .035 with is the most common. If you are a at home welder then use a small diameter electrode whenever you can. The smaller the electrode the less power you need from your machine to run. Just remember when it comes to MIG welding a single electrode size welds a wide range of metal thicknesses because it is the machine set-up that determines the metal thickness that will be welded.
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