0.6mm or 0.8mm wire?

[Tomlt]

Hi All,

A quick and hopefully simple question, I am getting myself a new welder this week and have a locost kit car chassis that I need to start welding up, traditionally I've always used bigger mig sets with 1-1.2mm wire for welding 5-10mm plate and box section for agriculutral fab work.

Moving from a gasless 130 el cheapo mig to a clarke 160TM, what wire size would you recommend for welding 1.6 to 3mm steel with the above machine? This will be used with Argoshield light.

Thanks for the advice, Tom.

 

[malcolm]

0.8mm wire definitely! 0.6 only comes into it's own on thinner stuff than 1.2mm, and the thicker stuff isn't needed until you are well above 3mm, and you'd not be using Argoshield light at that point.

 

[madkayaker]

you would think this is a simple question expect a barrage of answers . From the knowledge i have gained on here 0.8mm seams to be the suggested one

 

[malcolm]

Would you like to phone a friend MK?

Damn - you edited too fast.

 

[madkayaker]

miss read the thickness's brain was still thinking bout the 0.6 and 0.8mm thickness

 

[Tomlt]

Wow! Now thats what I call rapid response!

Thanks guys, that kinda supported my thinking that 0.6 might be a bit light for this sort of work.

I'll have to post a few pics of the chassis and project as it progresses and try and give a good review of the Clarke.

Thanks again, Tom.

 

[irondarren]

0.8mm is generally cheaper than 0.6mm by a large amount.

 

[malcolm]

It'll be good to see photos of the project.

Post an honest opinion of the Clarke if you do want to review. They seem a reliable choice among budget welders, but probably not what you are used to. Thicknesses will be fun for you too, but shouldn't be too bad if you are only going down to 1.6mm.

 

[Tomlt]

Thanks Darren,

Now thats the kind answer I like... a money saving one! :-)

Tom.

 

[daviddb]

Forgive the dimwit question but why would one not be using Argoshield Light above 3mm?

regards as always

David ( snowing in the Pyrenees as we speak)

 

[simon718]

i think thats where argoshield heavy comes in, different % of gases in the mix. for diy though i dont really think it matters

 

[irondarren]

the higher the co2 %, generally the higher the penetration and the higher the spatter. higher co2 levels also increases the point at where spray transfer occurs. Some of matts fancy pants pulse units run a different gas mix to aid spray transfer mode (i think)

 

[Bullyterrier]

i think thats where argoshield heavy comes in, different % of gases in the mix. for diy though i dont really think it matters

Argoshield Universal, is good all rounder. I weld 0.8 steel with it all the time no problems. I was welding 6mm chain links together the other day and couldn't be bothered to change wire so kept the 0.6 and it was welding fine on max settings, spray transfer I think (It certainly changed from normal dip welding). But then again everything I do is decorative not under stress.