pic: Weld Testing :D

[JamesCH95]

Originally Posted by MrBasse

I think that is where the "properly" and "correctly" come in to play. If you are welding an item for heavy use, you had better be sure that you are using the proper materials. In the 6061 case that you mentioned, the wrong materials are employed if they aren't up to the task that is placed upon them. All these alloys and issues raise all kinds of things that I don't even like to think about...

Personally, I love steel.

Indeed, not understanding and using the proper WPS for a given structure leads to many a sad weld.

I think the 6061 case is a good one to talk about because I think many people get the 'welding is terrible' from experiences with 6061 and not understanding the implications of removing the heat treatment.

And it is awfully hard to beat the weld-ability of steel. Difficulty working on it in the pits with hand tools, and relatively awful machining properties, are the reasons we don't use it often though.