3 electrodes
Aluminum Welding Electrodes
Aluminium fillers — the 4043 silicon and 5356 magnesium alloys that cover almost all aluminium welding, plus the legacy covered electrode.
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Aluminum fillers
E4043
AWS A5.3/A5.3M · SMAW · 14 ksi
E4043 is the covered aluminum stick electrode — a legacy repair consumable for field work where no TIG or MIG machine…
ER4043
AWS A5.10/A5.10M · GMAW / GTAW · 27 ksi
ER4043 is the 5% silicon aluminum filler — fluid, crack-resistant and the default choice for welding 6061 and…
ER5356
AWS A5.10/A5.10M · GMAW / GTAW · 38 ksi
ER5356 is the 5% magnesium aluminum filler — stronger than ER4043, stiffer to feed, and the choice when the joint…
Amperage quick reference
Typical ranges for the most-used diameters. The full amperage chart lists every diameter for every electrode.
| Electrode | 3/32 in | 1/8 in | 5/32 in | Polarity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E4043 | 40–70 A | 60–95 A | 90–130 A | DCEP |
| ER4043 | 80–130 A | 120–190 A | — | AC (GTAW), DCEP (GMAW) |
| ER5356 | 80–130 A | 120–190 A | — | AC (GTAW), DCEP (GMAW) |
Electrode comparisons
Side-by-side breakdowns of the pairings people actually have to choose between.
Other materials
Carbon & Mild Steel
Electrodes and wires for carbon and mild steel — the 60 and 70 series stick rods, solid MIG wire and flux-cored wire that cover most structural and fabrication work.
Stainless Steel
Austenitic and martensitic stainless fillers — 308L, 309L, 316L, 347 and 410, in both covered electrode and bare wire form.
Flux-Cored
Tubular flux-cored wires, both gas-shielded and self-shielded, for high-deposition structural and outdoor welding.