- Thread starter john135
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BrokenBiker
Member
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- 11,241
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Super6 is a strange brand...I have had more than acceptable results with their stick electrodes but then I got better at it and they didn't seem to be doing as good as I thought, started using rods supplied by OWS after that and they have always been decent but who knows what brand they actually are...but then I have never had a good experience with super6 gasless mig wire and I've tried a fair few spools over a reasonable time frame...I've used 2 spools of solid wire that worked fine, but then 1 that couldn't make a single bead without porosity but the spool of sip wire i bought to replace it was spot on...and a stainless spool that I just couldn't get to run right...personally, I avoid super6 now unless it's for 6013 electrodes as a last resort or weirdly tig tungstens that all seem just fine from them
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
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- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
The first real question is what size of wire reel is your machine capable of using, this can affect availability/choice/cost?
Also what is your workshop like dry/damp?
Wire storage?
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I'm spoilt for choice with Sheffield 30 mins up the road......
I usually go for a good brand with a copper coating.......the price is king.
Also what is your workshop like dry/damp?
Wire storage?
............................................................................................
I'm spoilt for choice with Sheffield 30 mins up the road......
I usually go for a good brand with a copper coating.......the price is king.
JOEPRO
Member
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- UK
I think ALL MIG wire comes copper coated? Didn't think it was optional but there you go
Dozzer
Forum Supporter
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- Essex/Suffolk border
There are now quite a few copper free wires
Have been using Esab AristoRod 12.50 for a while, not had a single issue with it, and gives a really nice weld pool to work with.
https://esab.com/gb/eur_en/products...-wires-tig-rods-gmaw-gtaw/ok-aristorod-12-50/
would never go cheap on wire, had a few issues with cheap wire. porosity & dirty welds being the main one.
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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- Cumbria
"best" is subjective. I'd say Lincoln, Esab, Bohler are the "good" wire brands for mild steel these days. They all have 2 or 3 ranges with varying cost/quality.
Ive never had a problem with Bohler wire, just the basic QG3/SG2 wire, it's cheap and it doesn't rust when left for a long time (I'll only use 2 or 3 reels of 15kg per year)
Copper coated generally works better for most people, the coating gives rust protection. You usually would only use copper free for high production rate welding where rust protection isn't an issue, for slightly better automatic feeding/running.
Ive never had a problem with Bohler wire, just the basic QG3/SG2 wire, it's cheap and it doesn't rust when left for a long time (I'll only use 2 or 3 reels of 15kg per year)
Copper coated generally works better for most people, the coating gives rust protection. You usually would only use copper free for high production rate welding where rust protection isn't an issue, for slightly better automatic feeding/running.
JOEPRO
Member
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- UK
That looks like quite a specialist wire to be fair. The copper obviously helps to prevent flash rusting in storage and doesn't have any real impact on the weld. Most generic MIG wires from local suppliers will all be copper coated even the cheapie super 8 wires etc.
For my uses I can't say I notice a difference between them.
Hi there. my welder will take 15kg reels. I can store unused reels in the house, the one i'm using in the welder in workshop may get damp. See online there is a brand called weldstar which is vaccum sealed in foil.The first real question is what size of wire reel is your machine capable of using, this can affect availability/choice/cost?
Also what is your workshop like dry/damp?
Wire storage?
............................................................................................
I'm spoilt for choice with Sheffield 30 mins up the road......
I usually go for a good brand with a copper coating.......the price is king.
premmington
Member
- Messages
- 6,192
- Location
- Norfolk
Most A18 wire is copper coated double-deoxidised mild steel.
I always buy 15kg rolls of 0.6mm A18 wire and have no problems when leaving it in a MIG set - in a workshop with changing temps - condensation.
I always buy 15kg rolls of 0.6mm A18 wire and have no problems when leaving it in a MIG set - in a workshop with changing temps - condensation.
Super 6 are a reseller and buy batches of mig wire and stick rods of whatever manufacturer they get the best deal with at the time.
So one roll of wire could be great but the next roll could be from a different maker and be rubbish.
The best wire I've used is Lincoln supramig. Not the cheapest but consistently top quality.
So one roll of wire could be great but the next roll could be from a different maker and be rubbish.
The best wire I've used is Lincoln supramig. Not the cheapest but consistently top quality.
Tangledfeet
Think outside, no box required.
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I concur - from my amateur perspective. Years ago I was able to get 5kg rolls of it on eBay from Inverter Fusion for (and I've just checked) £19.95 incl. delivery.
In fact, one of the older (not sure if still active) members here was one of the engineers that set up its UK production.
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The non copper plated Esab stuff has been around for sometime, I was using that probably 15 years ago. Runs very clean on pulse sets when welding clean material.
Rusting, generally only the top layer, just unroll a layer if it's too rusty. Don't be tempted to pull it through the torch though.
Rusting, generally only the top layer, just unroll a layer if it's too rusty. Don't be tempted to pull it through the torch though.
Tangledfeet
Think outside, no box required.
- Messages
- 3,178
- Location
- Top of a hill above St Andrews, Fife
However their website states that they design rather than manufacture.
Best use a branded wire, and no the one at the bottom of their offerings.
I find the Esab 1251 to be a good wire, their lower offering spits all over the place.
Have a friend using a Dach brand of wire, the welds look good an hardly any spatter,
not sure what it is like out of position as it looks very fluid, don't see it for sale in the UK.
I find the Esab 1251 to be a good wire, their lower offering spits all over the place.
Have a friend using a Dach brand of wire, the welds look good an hardly any spatter,
not sure what it is like out of position as it looks very fluid, don't see it for sale in the UK.
zzr1200
Working at 650 ft on open steel work.
- Messages
- 6,326
- Location
- Glapwell, Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK
Consider where you live finding a welding supplier might be a problem unless you get down to the coast, the other alternative is postal shopping.
I have used and would recommend Rapid Welding been in the game for years know their market/stuff and have good prices. I've never tried Bohler product but most seem to rate them very highly. The only down could be couriers fees.
Choose from our Extensive Range of A18 Mig Wire 15KG . Welding Machines, Equipment & Supplies from Rapid Welding
Buy A18 Mig Wire 15KG , from Rapid Welding Supplies. See our Full Range of Welders & Welding Equipment on site & Buy On-line Now for great discounts!
www.rapidwelding.com
I bought my mig in around 2000. It hardly had any use until about 2014. In 2 equally damp warehouses right by the sea. In Wales! Never rusted - just cheap copper coated stuff.
