5kg 15kg?

[bright one]

I am brand new to MIG welding. Can any of you nice knowledgeable people out there tell me how many hours I can expect a 5kg spool of wire to last?. I know that must depend on the power I use the machine at. Lets say about half power 120amps on a 250 MIG welder working steadily through the day, and also does anyone know of a very reliable budget brand MIG welder that can use 15kg spools other than R-Tech 250?

 

[TechnicAl]

https://www.twi-global.com/technical-knowledge/job-knowledge/welding-costs-continued-097/

 

[Tangledfeet]

I am brand new to MIG welding. Can any of you nice knowledgeable people out there tell me how many hours I can expect a 5kg spool of wire to last?. I know that must depend on the power I use the machine at. Lets say about half power 120amps on a 250 MIG welder working steadily through the day, and also does anyone know of a very reliable budget brand MIG welder that can use 15kg spools other than R-Tech 250?

My Parweld XTM 182i will take 15kg reels and is around the same price as the R-Tech 250. Aside from them and a few other I suspect you'd be looking at a transformer based machine like the Oxford MigMaker - they certainly have the reliability from what I gather.

 

[gordon stephenson]

What sort of work will the welding set be used for, And also how many hours per day/week do you anticipate?

 

[henry Kadzielski]

I am brand new to MIG welding. Can any of you nice knowledgeable people out there tell me how many hours I can expect a 5kg spool of wire to last?. I know that must depend on the power I use the machine at. Lets say about half power 120amps on a 250 MIG welder working steadily through the day, and also does anyone know of a very reliable budget brand MIG welder that can use 15kg spools other than R-Tech 250?

That is a question (how long is a piece of string). What is the wire size that you are using, are you just tacking, is there assembly to be done, are you welding out of position? There are too many variables to give any definitive answers, however just as a guess about 5 days. That 'working steadily' means different things to different people. I can put down a 15kg spool of 1.2mm solid in one day, and for me that day was steadily working, things do get hot at that rate.

 

[p0689109]

I would suggest start with the 5 Kg and see how that goes. Best option cost wise in my opinion as you will find it impossible to find the correct answer for you and the way you weld, amount you weld etc.

 

[Wallace]

15kg will be cheaper cost wise provided you use it and keep it dry. 5kg less of a loss if it goes rusty from minimal use & dampness.