The submerged arc welding (SAW) process can offer excellent productivity — providing companies with a potential competitive edge. However, the wide range of wire and flux combinations on the market can make selection of the best products seem intimidating. Often, it’s not a simple “if X is the case, then use Y filler metal” answer. There are several factors to consider.

It’s important to understand how the wire and flux will interact with each other and the weldment — and the selection often requires compromise. Discovering as much as possible about the application’s requirements helps identify potentially costly and time-consuming conflicts between expectations and reality during the selection process, as opposed to during implementation.

Filler metal manufacturers are a good resource to help determine which wire and flux combinations can improve a welding operation, and their product literature provides valuable information. Most importantly, answering the following key questions provides insight into the big question: which wire and flux is best for the application?

This article has been published in Practical Welding Today. To read the entire story, please click here.