Mig Welding Wire (for steel)

[GrahamGKD]

Folks,
Is there anything I should be looking for when buying wire for normal steel welding or is all welding wire on the market much of a muchness please?

Also, is there anything that can be sprayed on the wire to repel moisture etc. which won't interfere with the welding process or mess up the liner - or is the only option to take the reel off the welder and keep the wire in the airing cupboard?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Wire does vary in quality but for the average diy welder it's not really too much of an issue, you probably wouldn't notice any difference. Pros who use reel after reel would instantly know if they had a worse or better brand than their usual one.
Regarding storage, it's not a good idea to spray anything on the reel, it will promote the clogging up of the liner and won't allow the dust to be blown out with compressed air. Better to remove the reel if it's to be stored for long periods or leave it on the machine wrapped it in a plastic bag with a few silica gel sachets inside. Some wire comes covered in a paper wrap which I think is impregnated with something, I usually wrap that back round if I'm not using it for a while.

 

[shenion]

Good wire will feed better and not rust. I have rolls of Lincoln and Hobart wire that are over a year old and kept in my wet garage. They still look as good as new.

I bought some cheap Chinese wire and it fed poorly (wire obviously varied in the copper coating every 3'). Within a month it was tarnished and started rusting. Threw it out as it was useless.

 

[HasBean]

I have no choice over here just usually get 5Kg reel as and when I do an internet order, some Chinois wire in at the moment, no rust but not wound very well, keeps upsetting the feed . (Still on my first reel )
'Workshop' is the back of my garage, 6' x 8', car is usually soaked but, however, never had rusty wire (is there an emoticon for crossed fingers?). Leave the reel in the mig, bag or two of silica gel in a plastic bag wrapped around it. So far so good

 

[GrahamGKD]

Thanks very much for the advice folks.