180424R15A - ESAB OK Tigrod 4043 - 2.4mm Aluminum TIG Welding Rod (5kg Tube)

Premium Aluminum TIG Welding Rods for General Fabrication

The ESAB OK Tigrod 4043 is a high-quality aluminum welding rod designed for Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG). This 2.4mm (approximately 3/32 inch) diameter rod is one of the most versatile and widely used aluminum filler metals in the industry. Supplied in a robust 5kg tube, it offers professional fabricators and industrial maintenance teams a reliable supply of premium filler metal that meets AWS A5.10 standards. The 4043 alloy is an aluminum-silicon mixture containing approximately 5% silicon, a formulation that provides distinct advantages over other aluminum grades.

One of the primary benefits of the ESAB ER4043 alloy is its exceptional fluidity. The addition of silicon lowers the melting point of the rod relative to the base metal, allowing the filler to flow smoothly and wet out the joint edges effectively. This characteristic makes it an excellent choice for welders of all skill levels, as it helps create a smooth, aesthetically pleasing bead profile with minimal effort. Furthermore, the silicon content significantly reduces the sensitivity of the weld to hot cracking, which is a common challenge when welding heat-treatable aluminum alloys. This makes the OK Tigrod 4043 particularly suitable for rigid structures or complex joint configurations where shrinkage stresses might otherwise cause defects.

This rod is specifically recommended for welding 6xxx series alloys (such as the ubiquitous 6061-T6), as well as 3xxx and 5xxx series alloys (with less than 2.5% magnesium). It is widely used in the automotive industry for repairing engine components, transmission housings, and frames, as well as in general fabrication, bicycle frame manufacturing, and light structural work. While 4043 is not recommended for parts that will be anodized for color matching (as the silicon turns the weld dark gray), it remains the industry standard for general-purpose aluminum welding where strength, ease of use, and crack resistance are paramount. The 2.4mm diameter is a perfect middle-ground size, offering enough deposition for medium-thickness plates while still being controllable on thinner sections.