Current favorite .030 Flux core wire?

[thickhead]

Is there a new current gotta try it .030 flux core wire you guys are using?
Need some for a project later this week and figure its worth asking - had some INETUB that worked well but anything else good out there with low spatter?

 

[thickhead]

I guess it’s not a big deal then, any of the usual name brands?
Was kind of hoping there was some new magic wire out there that the sage masters of the GJ had figured out.

 

[thickhead]

I have some .035, but will be using a Hobart 100 flux machine on a rocker panel repair. Should I even bother picking up the .030 stuff?

 

[shedfullatools]

I burn a lot of .035 Lincoln NR211, I've had the cheaper wires but will never run them again. Roll after roll of the Lincoln and it burns wonderfully, I do a fair amount of body work with it as well. As long as your welder goes down nice and low it works excellent for body work.

 

[thickhead]

I’ll give it a shot. Thanks.

 

[readhead]

I prefer the Lincoln but have also run a lot of Forney and found it a close second.

 

[rlitman]

I bought this spool when it was $37.50:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00G5GIIQ6/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It smokes a LOT, but the spatter is actually not bad, and it welds quite nicely.

When buying E71T wire, the suffix is vitally important. -GS is ****. You want -11!

 

[Ign]

I ran a lot of Blue Demon, no complaints

I've had nothing but problems with .030 flux rat nesting so I only run .035. Even on smaller machines it's fine 'cause your actual filler material isn't the same volume as solid wire as the flux takes up some physical space but then of course turns to smoke. .030 flux is just too flimsy IME but if your liner and tip is perfect it may work

 

[thickhead]

Thanks for the input. Mental notes made.

 

[MoonRise]

Note that FCAW-S is usually a ***** to really clean WELL after welding so that you can get 'good' paint results.

Also note that the 'little' FCAW-S wires (like Lincoln NR-211-MP) E71T-11 do NOT have to meet any specified impact properties (CVN properties).

And further note that FCAW wires run 'hotter' (because of the tubular wire construction, meaning the "current density" is greater because the wire is actually a tube filled with powder) than solid GMAW wires (in short circuit transfer mode anyway, which is all that the typical 'small' machine can usually do). Meaning that you can usually weld slightly thicker workpieces with FCAW than with GMAW (using the same machine).

But that means it is usually a bit harder to weld THIN (like car sheet metal thickness stuff) with that FCAW wire because it can burn through that thin metal even faster.

Because the E71T-11 wire is actually running in a 'spray like transfer mode'.

https://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-...-theory/Pages/fcaw-usability-designators.aspx

Sheet metal is kind of what small wire diameter (0.023/0.025 or 0.030) solid wire GMAW with C25 gas is pretty good at.

You can still blow a hole right through some sheet metal with 0.025 wire and C25 gas though. Don't think that a 'small' diameter wire magically stops that from happening.

 

[MoonRise]

Fave 'small machine' FCAW-S wire for general-purpose usage would probably be Lincoln NR-211-MP in 0.035 or 0.045.

 

[thickhead]

So I have some INE E71T-GS .035 in the machine now, will see how it goes but hope to have a chance to grab some -11 before hand.

 

[petee_c]

i'd like more feedback on 030 wire... i was having trouble with some flux core 035 lincoln, and I think it was too thick for my liner.... just started welding mig with gas and SS 308L (in 030) wire and it feeds fine for it....