Question about brand of wire

[nash bap]

I have been using .030 solid Mig wire made by Lincoln Electric. Having run out I switched to a no-name brand that I had and was shocked to find that I could hardly weld with it. Just gave up. I am a beginner. Can somebody please suggest what brand of .030 wire is best suited for beginners doing autobody sheet metal work in the US. I read good things about the JW Harris Twenty Gauge wire but I am not sure it is available anymore. Can't believe that the brand of wire would make such a difference. What have you all found.

Thanks.

Nash

 

[shenion]

Yes, I tried some Harbor Freight wire and it would not feed right and corroded bad in a week. You could see the wire varied about every 2'.

The Lincoln Electric L-56 (ER70-6) wire is good. I have 2 rolls that are over a year old in my humid garage that flooded a few times. It still looks and works as good as new. You can get it at Home Depot.

I have Hobart wire I picked up at Northern Tools. It works well also.

Harris wire is supposed to be good as is ESAB.

 

[TechnicAl]

I believe the Harris 20 Gauge is Gas Shielded Flux Cored Wire. The Lincoln SuperArc L56 is solid (gas shielded) wire.

My advice is stick to what you know to be good or to reputable sources.

 

[nash bap]

Thanks guys. I'll continue to use the Lincoln Electric L56 wire since it is more readily available.

Shenion it was the HarborFreight wire that I tried in .030 and .035 sizes. What a disappointment!

Regards,

Nash

 

[shenion]

Thanks guys. I'll continue to use the Lincoln Electric L56 wire since it is more readily available.

Best wire around. Nice it is available at HomerD

Shenion it was the HarborFreight wire that I tried in .030 and .035 sizes. What a disappointment!

Worst wire around. I think it is "supposed" to be ER70S-3. Similar to L-56 but without deoxidizers. So not good for dirty steel. I managed to finish a job with the 0.030 HF wire and using the 0.035 tip. Still as the diameter varies, the wire speed is never right.

I think it is athe last thing I bought from HF. Nothing but Chinese junk. They do have a decent auto helmet for $50 that beats the $100 Lincoln Electric one sold by HomerD. The mask and the throw-away HVLP spray guns are the only thing I have ever heard anyone was satisfied with from HF.

For a while HF sold Clarke welders. No more. I bet Clarke dropped them

So you had the best wire around and then the worst. Some say they have not seen much of a difference. They have never seen the HF wire

Get the big 10lb reel of L-56. I have 10lb reels of 0.030 and 0.035. When the 0.030 is gone, I'll get some more 0.025 L-56. Don't want to keep 3 sizes and the .025/.035 overlap enough. I get the big reels. Unlike off-brand wire, it stays clean as new for a long time. My 0.030 reel is near a year old in my wet garage and no tarnish at all.

The HF wire turned brown in a week, not just the outer layer, but all of it. Well, not all 2' of cleanish, then 2' of brown, 2' of clean......

 

[malcolm]

Lincoln wire gets my vote too - I'm using ER70S-6 in 0.6mm. Does make sense to go for decent branded stuff to avoid materials and winding problems.

Problems people have with cheap gasless wire are even worse!

 

[shenion]

You know, the only gasless I have tried was what came with the Clarke. Something like a 1lb reel. I think I did about 4" of welds; threw it out and ran out and got gas.

I have been thinking of picking up some Lincoln gasless wire for my portable "riding welder". We'll see how well it works. I bet it is not as bad as I remembered with better wire.