A18 TIG Welding Wire – ER70S-6 Mild Steel Filler Rod

A18 TIG Welding Wire is a copper-coated, solid mild steel TIG filler wire designed for the welding of mild and non-alloy steels. Also classified as AWS A5.18 ER70S-6, A18 is a manganese and silicon deoxidised filler wire that provides good weld pool fluidity, smooth weld bead appearance and reliable welding performance.

Supplied in convenient 5 kg tubes with 1000 mm long rods, A18 TIG welding wire is available in 1.0 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm and 3.2 mm diameters, making it suitable for a wide range of TIG welding applications from thinner-gauge fabrication through to heavier engineering work.

A18 TIG wire is a popular choice for general fabrication, engineering, maintenance, structural steelwork, pipe and tube welding and other applications where a dependable mild steel TIG filler rod is required.

Key Features

• AWS A5.18 ER70S-6 classification
• Suitable for mild and non-alloy steels
• Copper-coated solid TIG filler wire
• Manganese and silicon deoxidised formulation
• Produces smooth, clean weld beads
• Good weld pool fluidity and control
• Suitable for general fabrication and engineering
• 1000 mm rod length
• 5 kg tube
• Available in 1.0 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm and 3.2 mm

Applications

A18 TIG welding wire is suitable for a wide range of mild steel and non-alloy steel TIG welding applications.

Typical uses include:

General fabrication: Suitable for manufacturing and repair work involving mild steel components and assemblies.

Engineering: A dependable filler rod for general engineering and workshop applications.

Pipe and tube welding: The available diameters allow the filler wire to be selected according to material thickness and joint requirements.

Structural steelwork: Suitable for appropriate mild steel structural fabrication applications.

Maintenance and repair: A useful general-purpose mild steel TIG filler rod for maintenance workshops and repair work.

Sheet metal fabrication: The smaller diameter 1.0 mm and 1.6 mm rods are suitable for applications where controlled filler addition is required.

What is A18 TIG Welding Wire?

A18 is a designation commonly used for a mild steel TIG welding filler rod. SWP A18 is classified as AWS A5.18 ER70S-6, making it suitable for welding mild and non-alloy steels.

The addition of manganese and silicon provides deoxidising properties that help produce consistent welding performance and a clean weld bead.

A18 TIG wire is therefore widely used where a general-purpose mild steel TIG filler rod is required for fabrication, engineering and repair work.

Choosing the Correct A18 TIG Wire Diameter

The correct TIG filler rod diameter depends on the material thickness, joint design, welding current and welding technique.

1.0 mm A18 TIG Wire
A smaller diameter filler rod suited to thinner materials and applications requiring precise filler control.

1.6 mm A18 TIG Wire
A versatile size suitable for a wide range of general mild steel TIG welding applications.

2.4 mm A18 TIG Wire
A larger filler rod for heavier material and higher deposition requirements.

3.2 mm A18 TIG Wire
Designed for heavier fabrication where a larger quantity of filler metal is required.

The correct diameter should always be selected according to the welding procedure, base material and joint being welded.

Why Buy A18 TIG Welding Wire from Norsemen Safety?

Norsemen Safety & Welding supplies welding consumables and equipment to professional welders, fabrication companies, engineering businesses and industry throughout the UK and Ireland. Our range covers TIG welding wire, MIG welding wire, welding electrodes, welding torches, welding PPE, fume extraction and welding equipment, allowing you to source your welding consumables and safety equipment from one specialist supplier.

Need help selecting the correct filler wire diameter or another welding consumable? Contact the Norsemen Safety welding team for advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is A18 TIG welding wire used for?

A18 TIG welding wire is used as a filler metal for TIG welding mild and non-alloy steels. It is commonly used in fabrication, engineering, maintenance, pipe and tube welding and general workshop applications.

Is A18 TIG wire the same as ER70S-6?

A18 is classified to AWS A5.18 ER70S-6. ER70S-6 is therefore an important specification to look for when purchasing A18 mild steel TIG filler wire.

What sizes does A18 TIG welding wire come in?

This product is available from Norsemen Safety in 1.0 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm and 3.2 mm diameters.

How long are the TIG rods?

The rods are 1000 mm long.

How much A18 TIG wire is in a tube?

Each tube contains 5 kg of TIG filler rods.

Can A18 TIG wire be used on mild steel?

Yes. A18/ER70S-6 is a mild steel TIG filler wire designed for suitable mild and non-alloy steel welding applications.

What shielding gas should be used with A18 TIG wire?

TIG welding of A18/ER70S-6 is typically carried out using argon shielding gas. Always follow the welding procedure and consumable manufacturer’s recommendations for the particular application.

What is the difference between A18 TIG welding wire and A15 TIG welding wire?

Both A18 and A15 are mild steel TIG filler wires, but they have different chemical compositions and welding characteristics.

A18 TIG wire (ER70S-6) contains higher levels of silicon and manganese, which provide good deoxidising properties and help produce a smooth, fluid weld pool and attractive weld bead. It is a popular general-purpose choice for mild steel TIG welding and is particularly useful where the steel may have light surface contamination, mill scale or rust.

A15 TIG wire (ER70S-2) is a triple-deoxidised filler containing titanium, zirconium and aluminium as additional deoxidisers. It is widely used for TIG welding mild and low-alloy steels and is particularly well suited to applications where clean, sound welds and good ductility are important, including pipe and root welding.

In simple terms:

A18 / ER70S-6: A good general-purpose mild steel TIG filler with a fluid weld pool and excellent bead appearance.

A15 / ER70S-2: A highly deoxidised TIG filler commonly chosen for higher-integrity welding applications, including pipe and root runs.

The choice between A15 and A18 should ultimately be based on the base material, welding procedure and required weld properties, rather than simply choosing one grade as a universal replacement for the other.

Order A18 TIG Welding Wire online from Norsemen Safety. Available in 1.0 mm, 1.6 mm, 2.4 mm and 3.2 mm, supplied in 5 kg tubes of 1000 mm rods.