Trying to find .024" S3 mig wire

[myredracer]

I am about to start restoration on a couple of cars that have thin sheet metal. Haven't measured it but it's going to be 22 ga. or a bit less (they're European so would metric equiv.). Will be welding to clean metal. I would like to use .024" ER70S-3 ("S-3") Mig wire but can't seem to find it anywhere. Maybe S-3 comes in .025" or a little more or a little less than that? Anyone have an idea where to source some? S-6 is the one that is commonplace and readily available. S-3 in .035" is also readily available.

I spoke to one local welding supply shop and they said it is still available "somewhere" but didn't know where exactly. I only want a small roll too and not a pallet full if that's what was needed to get it. My Mig has .024 S-6 in it now and I don't want to go thicker to get S-3. Also don't want to have to change the rollers.

 

[Bondo]

("S-3") mig wire but can't seem to find it anywhere. Anyone have an idea where to source some? S-6 is the one that is commonplace and readily available.

Ayuh,... What's the difference 'tween the 6, 'n the 3 wires,..??

 

[myredracer]

Different silicone and manganese content. S-6 is better on steel with oil, dirt and light rust and mill scale and S-3 is better on clean metal. S-3 will reduce chances of paint defects later on. I'm no expert and just parroting what the net has to say.

S-3 info: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-ca/consumables/Pages/product.aspx?product=Products_Consumable_MIGGMAWWires-SuperGlide-SuperGlideS3(LincolnElectric)

S-6 info.: http://www.lincolnelectric.com/en-ca/consumables/Pages/product.aspx?product=Products_Consumable_MIGGMAWWires-SuperGlide-SuperGlideS6(LincolnElectric)

and here: http://weldinganswers.com/mig-welding-with-s3-vs-s6-wire/

 

[manwithtools]

Not directly pointed at you, but I'm constantly baffled at folks that post they are looking for something and don't have their location in their profile. It could very well be that someone will be able to recommend a local source. They cant do that if they don't know where you live.

Okay, maybe it was pointed at you, but it was meant to be constructive

 

[zkling]

Run S-6 and spend your time worrying about other things. There is a reason you are having a tough time finding it in small quantity spools it is an industrial wire aimed at heavy industry for specific purposes. You could try one of the easy grind wires if you are concerned, as those are primarily designed for auto body work.

*In my experience, very seldom do welding shop employees know much about the actual welding process whys.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Have you tried looking anywhere online ?

You might want to look here.

http://weldfabulous.com/

 

[larry_g]

http://www.weldwire.net/weld_products/ww70s-3/

they list .023 above.

lg

 

[manwithtools]

I spent some time searching on line and this is not easy to find, S-6 in .023 - .025 no problem. S-3 in .030 is easier to find but still not too common.

I would use the S-6 and not worry about it. Another option is TiG.

 

[bob15]

Go to HD and buy this S-6 wire and move on if your life. The S-6 is a better wire anyway (will tolerate scale).

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Lincoln-Electric-0-025-in-2-lb-SuperArc-L-56-MIG-Welding-Wire-ED030583/100341071

 

[rburke65]

If I remember my math, I don't think there is a big difference between .025 and .023.

 

[StingRay]

If you are doing automotive body work you want it clean. Period. Use easy grind wire. It's easier to grind it and you put less heat in when grinding. You shrink it enough welding it. It is also easier to stretch the haz of the seam.

 

[csp]

ESAB EZ grind and stop creating a problem looking for a solution.

 

[myredracer]

I tried weldwire.net and they don't have the .023 in S-3 anymore. I officially give up trying to find any...

I will give the easy grind stuff a try but that is hard to find as well. Have only found one online source so far and I hope if I pay for it they actually have it and don't issue a refund after. According to some sources on the net, they aren't making the easy grind in .023" now. There are sources for it in .030" tho.

There are a lot of folks out there saying easy grind is great stuff but also those saying it's a wasted of time. If it really does make for easier grinding and less heat, I'm willing to give it a try.

I had no idea welding wire was so complicated. Almost need to be a metallurgical engineer.

 

[csp]

It's not as complicated as you're making it to be. People successfully weld sheetmetal every day without even knowing what wire is in their welders.

 

[Bondo]

I had no idea welding wire was so complicated

Ayuh,.... Never heard of "Easy grind" either,....

The plain ole weldin' wire at my local supplier is all I've ever needed for weldin' plain ole steel,....
S-6, I guess,...

Flux-core in my little 120v portable welder,...

 

[sberry]

Even if you were an expert couldn't tell the difference. Millions of cars are painted over this wire, use it. A case of a little too much good info. I don't screw with the easy grind either.

 

[brownbagg]

have you tried eastwood. the autobody supply house

 

[malibu101]

I am NOT an expert bodyman but I dabble.
Years ago I had a 2 pound roll of ESAB EZ-Grind wire because I too heard it was the best thing ever for bodywork. It worked perfectly well, but I really couldn't tell a difference from "regular" ER70S-6.

The "70" in the number logic means that is 70K tensile strength or something like that.
So I think 70 is 70 when it comes down to grinding it. ?

 

[myredracer]

Yes, have tried Eastwood. They only have S-6. I searched every corner of the internet (I think) and found nothing.

Only found one place for the easy grind wire and it's $65 for an 11 lb roll which is way more than I'll need. Would get a 2 lb roll to try out if I could find it, but I think I'll stick with the S-6 already in my welder.

 

[sberry]

That was easy wasn't it?

 

[Zeke]

Ayuh,.... Never heard of "Easy grind" either,....

The plain ole weldin' wire at my local supplier is all I've ever needed for weldin' plain ole steel,....
S-6, I guess,...

Flux-core in my little 120v portable welder,...

So, by your posts, I would think you haven't done much panel fitting and welding on cars. Me neither. I have only about 6 total restorations under my belt involving extensive panel fabrication, forming and patching in. That by no means qualifies me as an expert — only a user.

I agree though with my limited experience that ER70S-3 is a better choice with the less silicone content. For instance, if you decide to flatten out your welds a bit with a hammer and dolly while they are still hot, Er70S-6 will be way more brittle and may be prone to cracking depending on the panel and location (or even the car, think about a pro gasser).

There is even a ER70S-2. Now finding this in spools might be a problem. I don't know, I switched to TIG for auto body work a few years ago. That point and shoot stitching method for MIG just annoys the hell out of me. I tack up with MIG only for the convenience.

ER70S-anything is available in rod form. So when you get that particular about your filler metal, ditch the MIG and do it right.

You might also want to check this site out.

 

[merr6267]

Re: Trying to find .024" S3 mig wire

I've welded with mainly S6 MIG wire and I'd consider myself above average for non professionals. At work in the production facility (robots) they use S3 wire and that's where we get the wire for our prototype shop as well. I very much don't like the way that it welds. It's much more difficult to make a satisfactory weld, even if the parent material appears the be "clean." I have more porosity and spatter with that wire than any that I've had before.

PM

 

[Bondo]

So, by your posts, I would think you haven't done much panel fitting and welding on cars.

Naw,.... More like tractor bodies, dump truck bodies,...
I'm not a car restorer,... though I have helped on a few,...

Heavy equipment/ boat / fix 'bout anything / if ya ain't got it build it / kinda Mechanic,...

 

[Zeke]

I've welded with mainly S6 MIG wire and I'd consider myself above average for non professionals. At work in the production facility (robots) they use S3 wire and that's where we get the wire for our prototype shop as well. I very much don't like the way that it welds. It's much more difficult to make a satisfactory weld, even if it appears the be "clean." I have more porosity and spatter with that wire than any that I've had before.

PM

You should search and find Jody's take on this on his site, WeldingTipsandTricks.com

 

[sberry]

There is a reason you are not finding these wires.

 

[merr6267]

Just read the welding tips and tricks site. . . Can't disagree entirely, as I can get it to make fine welds, but it takes a lot more cleanup than what my S6 wire experience needs.

I've welded many thousand feet of mild steel beads with light machine oil, mill scale and light rust without any issues with water tight assemblies. The remnants of abrasive wheel and saw coolant on the parts that I welded with S3 caused issues.

My post was mostly cautionary to someone specifically looking for s3, and if he were less experienced may find frustration. Ymmv.

Thanks,
Phill

 

[Zeke]

Yeah, the funny comment by Jody was that the silicone content was something that came from sand. Sand is cheap and so on.