Is my wire too rusty to use?

[jweaver]

When I first got my welder, I used it with 0.8mm Flux cored Gasless wire.. But I never got on with it and eventually switched to CO2.

I went through a few 0.7KG rolls quickly, so rather than buying small rolls, I decided to go for 5KG and year later I havn't even touched the surface...

I am taking delivery of a new welder tomorrow and decided to get ready.. My wire is showing it age.. Its still shiny, but it has a small amount of oxidization on it.. I wouldn't call it rust, but I guess thats what it is.

My question is whether its still usable? When is it time to scrap rusty wire?

I also discovered that its 0.6mm.. For some reason I bought this over 0.8mm, but looking at my new welder, it implies that I need 0.8mm for metal over 2mm.

Is my 0.6mm still OK to use? And is it worth picking up some 0.8mm for the bigger jobs?

Thanks in advance.

Jon

 

[madkayaker]

Spool off the rusty bit (first layer normally) then use the rest

 

[the snooper]

rusty wire is no good unwind some to get rid of the rusty stuff

 

[jweaver]

Spool off the rusty bit (first layer normally) then use the rest

I wound off a bit and its the same underneath.. But in truth, I am not actually sure that its rusty.. Its more like "tarnished".. It has a very slightly rough feel, but I wouldn't go as far as to say that it was rusty and fear I am being a bit paranoid...

 

[the snooper]

if its rough to touch i wouldnt use it debris will come lose in the liner and what ever it is will contaminate the weld

 

[jweaver]

if its rough to touch i wouldnt use it debris will come lose in the liner and what ever it is will contaminate the weld

Damn.. That was a waste then.. Think I had better stick to 0.7kg rolls from now on. They work out more expensive, but its cheaper if I consider the fact that I am throwing unused stuff away...

Cheers

Jon

 

[wheresmejumper]

id still use 5kg rolls if i were you.
when your finished each job,rewind the 3 metres in the torch back onto the reel and stick it in boiler house or hot press etc.slight effort but you save big

 

[jweaver]

id still use 5kg rolls if i were you.
when your finished each job,rewind the 3 metres in the torch back onto the reel and stick it in boiler house or hot press etc.slight effort but you save big

You arn't wrong.. I put all my old Flux cored wire in bags when I switched to gas, and they are still perfect.. So perhaps I could just bag it up.

To be honest, I wonder if I am being a bit paranoid.. I just wound a layer or so off, and the stuff underneath is pretty much the same.

BUT.. When you look at it, really not in bad shape.. Its not quite as shiney as it was when it was new.. But if you rub it, its perfectly smooth.. I rubbed a length of it between my nail and there is nothing to come off.. It clean and just a bit tarnished in spots.

Am I perhaps worrying too much?

Jon

 

[pedrobedro]

Put a bit of scotchbrite round it with a clothes peg where it feeds into the liner and use it up.

 

[Justme]

To be honest, I wonder if I am being a bit paranoid.. I just wound a layer or so off, and the stuff underneath is pretty much the same.

BUT.. When you look at it, really not in bad shape.. Its not quite as shiney as it was when it was new.. But if you rub it, its perfectly smooth.. I rubbed a length of it between my nail and there is nothing to come off.. It clean and just a bit tarnished in spots.

Am I perhaps worrying too much?

Jon

You will curse this day it if you use it as it is. But its your money & your hair that you will tear out when it starts to play up. Even if it does not straight away the wire will leave deposits in the liner which will cause problems in the future.

 

[steve.h]

I had a reel like that, I sprayed it with wd40 and pegged some wet anddry on the wire near the feed roller, not had any problems since...