Is there a filler alloy that can be used to weld all aluminum base alloys?
By: Tony Anderson CEng. Q – I work in a small welding repair shop, and I am often asked to perform repair welding on aluminum structures. Sometimes the type of base alloy is known, and on other occasions, it is not. I have two questions relating to the repair of aluminum. First, is there a filler alloy that can be used to successfully weld all types of aluminum alloys? And secondly, from time to time, I come into contact with two aluminum alloys of which I have found difficulty in obtaining information about arc welding. These alloys are 2024 and 7075. Can you provide me with information on how to weld these alloys with either the GMAW or GTAW process? A – In covering your first question first, the short answer is that there is no filler alloy which is suitable for welding all types of aluminum alloys. We need to understand that there are currently over 400 wrought aluminum alloys and over 200 aluminum alloys in the form of castings and ingots registered with the Aluminum Association.
