mig welding wire

[caterpillar028]

what wire should be used for both welding car bodies and 6mm plate (not together) the place i work in used 0.6 wire but it seemed to give a lot of truble and made the welder unsmooth to use but we are restoring a triumph spitfire which is like welding tin foil so i need the welder turn down as low as i can get it but i also have to weld box section on are lorry tail lifts

what wire would be the best for both

 

[Welderpaul]

0.8mm wire would probably be the best compromise to weld both 6mm plate and car body thicknesses. Not ideal though.

 

[shenion]

0.6mm is better for body work up to 3mm steel.
0.8mm is better for heavier stuff but may be a bit hot on body work.

I have 0.6mm for thin steel and 0.9mm for the rest.

 

[caterpillar028]

thanks for the advise is 0.6 any harder used than 0.8

 

[chunkolini]

I use 0.8 for everything, I am happy welding 1mm to 3+mm using it.
I used to use .06mm for everything with no problems.
A lot of it can come down the welder being used, my Buters welder is very stable at low amps, some models are not so happy.

Chunko'.

 

[Windy Miller]

Im with Chunko!

I used to use 0.6 but I found that when I tried to do anything over about 3mm I couldn't get enough weld metal into the pool even when I turned the wire speed up full. When I went up to 0.8 wire, it was like another machine! I've never looked back, and it's still as good as gold on thin car body panels.

I'm guessing that this is a limitation of a smaller machine? (ESAB Compact 125)

 

[dave_sussex]

i thought it was to do with power and to reduce the risk of burn through? doesn't 0.8mm wire pass more power to the weld therefore more suitable for thicker metal and 0.6mm wire better for thinner metal as less power is put into the weld?

is that correct?

Cheers,

Dave.

 

[Ragnarok]

0.8 is fine for 0.9mm with my sip topmig, minimum power is 25amps i usually use power setting 2 on 0.9mm though, I hate 0.6 wire used to use it just cause I had a roll, but i've never found any reason to use it since switching to 0.8, though technically it should weld thinner, cause it melts easier.