Easy Grind .030?

[basstrix]

I understand that ESAB Easy Grind .023" wire is the way to go for MIG welding body panels. The problem I'm running into is that it's not in stock anywhere and I can't get an ETA. I can, however. find the .030 diameter.

So, to all the folks with experience mig'ing panels, is it worth the hassle/wait to get the .023, or just go with the .030?

Thanks,

BT

 

[turtle5353]

If your using gas (CO2/argon mix 75/25) Any .023 solid wire will do. You don't have to wait for the esab brand. I don't like to use .030 doing my panels because it takes a good bit more heat to melt a .030 wire compare to .023 wire. You have a much greater likelihood of warping the panel from excessive heat or even burning completely through the panel with .030. I have welded panels with 030 but its much trickier than the .023 and .023 is much more forgiving, especially for a beginner. Just about any weld supply shop or tractor supply ect will have solid wire .023 But if you have to have the ESAB wire make sure you only use it for body panels and no structural brackets. If I remember right the ESAB wire is softer and more malleable and only has about 50% of the tensile strength standard wire has. I use standard wire for everything so I don't have to worry about it. And if you have the access, as your spot weld cools give it a light smack with a dolly and hammer. This will help prevent the metal from shrinking too much as it cools causing warpage.

 

[basstrix]

Thanks, that certainly answers the question about wire diameter.

I wonder if MIG welds from ER70S2 or S3 are any easier to work with on sheetmetal? I've read that the extra silicon in S6 is primarily to address dirty/rusty base material and the the Si combines with the CO2 making the metal harder. This is, supposedly, why TIG welds are easier to work with (in regard to body work).

 

[turtle5353]

If your base metal is not nice and clean, it doesn't matter what wire you use. Its not going to turn out good. As far as the SI combining with the co2 and making it harder I have no idea...... im just a welder!!! LOL But if it does you wanna watch, because a harder weld is not necessarily a better weld, at some point the harder it is the more brittle it will become.

People have been using the tig welder more with body panel because you can control the heat a lot better and the heat is more concentrated to one area and it wont distort the metal as easily as mig welding. If I had a tig welder at home I would try it. But ihave been welding body panel with my mig for years with great results.

 

[MeZapU]

Even Lowes or Home Depot should have Lincoln brand .023 wire in stock. Lincoln wire is pretty good stuff.

 

[basstrix]

Even Lowes or Home Depot should have Lincoln brand .023 wire in stock. Lincoln wire is pretty good stuff.

Agreed...it's not .023, it's Easy Grind that's hard to come by. Even Qcode recommends it...or at least he did at one time.

 

[Qcode351mach]

Even Lowes or Home Depot should have Lincoln brand .023 wire in stock. Lincoln wire is pretty good stuff.

Agreed...it's not .023, it's Easy Grind that's hard to come by. Even Qcode recommends it...or at least he did at one time.

I still do last time I ordered I waited over a month to get 2 rolls..As others stated you don't want 030 for body panels sheet metal work..Other .023 will work it just takes longer more work to grind down the welds

 

[TommyK]

Even Lowes or Home Depot should have Lincoln brand .023 wire in stock. Lincoln wire is pretty good stuff.

Agreed...it's not .023, it's Easy Grind that's hard to come by. Even Qcode recommends it...or at least he did at one time.

Weldingsupply.com appears to have 11lbs rolls of the .023 easy grind available.