Mig Weld - Wire Diameter?

[palerider94]

Will be doing my floor pans, torque boxes, rockers, and cowl. Got a lot of it cut out now and getting ready to start wlding in some pieces. Just curious on what size mig wire people are using. I've got .030 that I have been using with various success. Just wondering if I should try a thinner wire ,023. Any suggestions? thanks

 

[65Rob]

I've always used .023 with the argon/co2 gas, make sure you have the corresponding tip for your wire size

 

[rusty428cj]

I've always used .023 with the argon/co2 gas, make sure you have the corresponding tip for your wire size

We use the same

 

[palerider94]

thanks I'll try smaller diameter - have been using .030 to date - maybe that why my welds look so bad ;-)

 

[ForceFed70]

I've always used .023 with the argon/co2 gas, make sure you have the corresponding tip for your wire size

That's what I would use.

 

[67rcks]

weld looks bad due to impurities (rust, black oxide), maybe lack of gas, welding technique i.e. your hand is shaking. Not due to wire thickness. With low amps the weld penetration thus its strength improves with thinner wire.

 

[Wicked65]

Not due to wire thickness.

Thats not totally true. On smaller welders using 110v, they usually do not have enough power to not only melt the thicker wire, but to melt the metal your trying to weld. A smaller wire will take less heat to melt, there for alowing more voltage to heat up the metal you are trying to weld. However, Flux core or crap metal, not enough heat can cause welds to sit on top.

 

[Bitter]

I've been using .025. I have a spool of .030 but I doubt I'll ever use it as the .025 works so well.

 

[tim95gt]

sorry to hijack, but how different is it welding with the .023 wire and gas vs .030 flux core. I have my brothers welder and just been trying to do some practicing on scraps with the flux to work on penetration, but if there is a big diff between using the 2 I will wait until I get the gas to keep practicing, before tackling the cowl on my car

 

[67rcks]

day and night. I still have a roll of fluxcore rustying on the shelf that came with my 175 amp LE. Lincoln says you can fluxweld up to 1/2" thick metal. Yet I would not trust these welds. CO2 gas is the best way to go. The weld is nice, clean and firm.

 

[Jester67]

sorry to hijack, but how different is it welding with the .023 wire and gas vs .030 flux core. I have my brothers welder and just been trying to do some practicing on scraps with the flux to work on penetration, but if there is a big diff between using the 2 I will wait until I get the gas to keep practicing, before tackling the cowl on my car

As above it is day and night I use .023 and gas on my 180amp Hobart on the thin stuff and .03 on mid size and I thing .04 at the limit of the welder with solid core and switch to flux core for the real heavy stuff like 5/8 on multi pass welds

 

[tim95gt]

is it easier to get penetration on the 16 -18 ga with solid? or easier to tell when you have acheived it? I guess i will have to get a regulator and some gas and find out

 

[NasaGT]

I use .023 on sheet metal and 0.03 on thicker stuff

 

[Jester67]

no both will penetrate but is is easier to see what you are doing less smoke and less cleanup after. The smaller wire in solid allows for more control