18 replies to this topic

[feybrand]

Hi all

havent done much welding since i finished my last project 5 or so years ago and i have a lot of welding bits and bobs knocking around but no wire ...so ive got different tips 0.6mm and 0.8mm and i cant remember if i used 0.8 mm wire or 0.6mm and i need to go buy some...so what do you all use and which do you find easiest ?

thanks.

[Carlos W]

I use 0.6mm I know Ben uses 0.8.

[sonikk4]

I have always used 0.6mm.

[Tamworthbay]

I use 0.6mm, my mate uses 0.6mm wire and a 0.8mm tip and swears that it stops it welding to the tip and jamming etc but I have never tried it.

[Tupers]

I used 0.8mm as I weld anything from body panels to heavy steel plate.

 

If I had another welder just for bodywork I would be tempted to try out 0.6mm. 

[R1mini]

According to the chart on the inside of my Murex Tradesman, 0.6 is only thickness listed for 1mm thick mild steel. But I have used both successfully though I find 0.6 easier to control

 

David

[megamini_jb]

Also 0.6

[midridge2]

I have all ways used 0.6 wire with 0.8 tip.

[henryS]

Can I hijack and ask what type of wire you all use too?

Presumably with an argoshield style gas (5% Argon plus CO2)?

[Gremlin]

I use 0.6 with a 0.8 tip, whether it was the cheap tips or not that we got free with the welder I don't know but since then we've always bought 0.8 tips. I reckon with 0.6 tips that may not be in tolerance once you arc and the wire heats up it expands and jams in the tip, also I tend to have a low wire feed rate so the cool wire won't be coming through as fast

[Phil-R]

0.6 wire and 0.6 tip.Luckily, I've never had to use a bigger tip. Might be worth trying tips from a different source?

 

Can I hijack and ask what type of wire you all use too?

Presumably with an argoshield style gas (5% Argon plus CO2)?

 

Whatever mild steel wire you can get easily. 

Argon with 5% is good for nice clean welds on thin stuff, but 100% argon or 100% CO2 will generally work fine. If I still used disposable bottles, 80%Argon 20%CO2 from Halfords would be my preferred choice.

[The Matt]

I use 0.6 with a 0.8 tip too. But I can't weld fir toffee

[henryS]

Thanks Phil. I plan to get a bottle (9litre water capacity) of 5% argon/CO2 mix from my local supplier, even though I have the disposable bottles, it'll just be easier than swapping bottles as often,

[Ben_O]

For the Mini and especially if you are a beginner, then 0.6 is much easier to use on the thin steel.

 

0.8 requires more heat to flow so you would need to be more cautious if using it on thin stuff or you will blow holes.

 

I personally use 0.8 because it was what i was brought up on but have used 0.6 with no complaints.

 

also,if you keep welding the wire to the tip then you are doing something wrong. I have never heard of using a 0.8 tip with 0.6 wire. Although i can't see a problem with it, i don't see the point.

 

Ben

[Carlos W]

 i but have used 0.6 with no complaints, fixing Carlos's F ups

 

as above