Found out the hard way that TIG filler rod and base metal alloy have to match closer than I thought

I was welding some 304 stainless with 308L filler and wondering why my welds looked like garbage with that dark discoloration, turns out you really need 304L filler for thin 304 to keep the carbide precipitation under control. Has anyone else had a similar mix up with filler rods messing up a job?

2 comments

2 Comments

walker.robert9d ago

Yeah, I used to think any 308 was fine for 304. That mistake taught me different real quick.

tessa_hill869d ago

Ngl @walker.robert, I feel that. I've definitely made similar mistakes and learned the hard way too. It's one of those things you have to live through to really get why it matters.