filler rod for a TIG

[thecheat]

Hey, my TIG welder came in, I've got everything, But, I got 1lb of arc welding rods thinking they were filler rods... I "can" use them as the TIG has arc welding built in, but, Could I use them for filler rod?

PS: is filler rod a specific type of material? Or, is it just the same metal as what you are welding?

[Dang911]

Generally speaking any metal "can" be a filler material, this however isn't good practice. For SS use 347. Arc welding rods are usual coated with a material which sublimates into a shielding gas, since you will already have a shielding gas in a bottle with TIG, using such a rod will add slag to your weld. In addition, arc welding rods are usually much larder in diameter than you would use when TIG welding..

[thecheat]

thanks, that's what I had guessed (that they would "work") but that clears it up, ok, when I get that tank filled up at the welding supply shop I'll make sure to get the proper filler rod.