Mig flux core wire

[SARG]

A question for the experienced folks........ I just ordered the super cheap mig welder and helmet from Harbor Freight and noted that there were numerous complaints on the supplied wire. Most stated that Lincoln flux core wire was the stuff to use.

Is the Hobart brand flux-core wire of decent quality ?

 

[Joe H]

Yes, same as Miller.

 

[Shield Arc]

I have literally run tons of Hobart's 21-B. It is amazing how much ductility that wire has. When it comes to gas less flux core it is my first choice! Second choice would be Lincoln's NR-212.

 

[RPW]

As stated the HF wire is crap. I've run best with the lincoln wire and my second choice is the hobart wire. Main complaint of the hobart over the Lincoln is more splatter and smoke. For me the lincoln welds a bit smoother but either works really well. I've also go a HF 90 amp wire feed (plus other brands) and I do like using it for outside work on smaller projects. For the larger outside stuff I use my Miller bobcat 225nt stick.

 

[lostcause]

for flux core all i've used has been the lincoln 0.035 nr-211. i recently changed welders and have been using gas with some hobart 0.030 solid wire. i went to a local independent shop and they sold washington alloy wire. it seems to lay down a little smoother than the hobart wire with my miller 211. that, plus the fact that it's $25 for an 11lb spool doesn't hurt either. if i need more flux core i'll probably try the washington alloy for that too.

 

[SARG]

That brings up another question............ am I correct in assuming the cheap flux core welders only handle the 2 lb. spools ?

And ... is the .035 size wire better than the .030 ...... or is the difference not of importance to a novice welder?

 

[lostcause]

is the spindle that the spool goes on is about 3/4", then it's set up for 1-2lb spools. if it has an adapter that goes up to about 2" diameter, then it will take 10-12lb spools. the 10-12lb spools are 8" diameter, so you should be able to tell whether you can fit that size spool in the welder.

 

[FredH]

Ironically , Last Time I bought a 10# spool for my Lincoln SP135 , The Harbor Freight Flux core .035 was around $ 60 + , Yet the Lincoln wire , same size and type at Home Depot was $ 44 .

Go figure that Name Brand cheaper than Generic .

Fred H.

 

[handirifle]

That brings up another question............ am I correct in assuming the cheap flux core welders only handle the 2 lb. spools ?

Mine is a Campbell Hausfeld from Home Depot, 85amp welder, and it accepts at least 10lb spools, easily. Not sure about the HF models. Have you looked at the owners manual? It ought to say in there.

 

[RPW]

Cheap flux core welders accepting 10# spools? Not necessarily. My HF unit only accepts 2# spools....yet.

 

[qball98]

Thought I would chime in on the hobart wire. I just tossed a roll in the trash because it would not weld worth a d*#. Been using Lincoln nr-211 and nr-212 and ran out. I though why drive 40 miles to by another roll when hobart was available locally so I bought a roll. Spent half a day trying to get it to weld and finally gave up and drove to get something else and went back to welding just fine. I will say this was the hobart E71T-11 and not the fabsheild 21-b so it may be the same quality.

 

[yomax4]

Isn't the Hobart 71T-11 a dual shield wire? Needs Gas.

 

[qball98]

Isn't the Hobart 71T-11 a dual shield wire? Needs Gas.

Nope on the side of the roll is specifically says gasless flux core welding wire. I suppose they could have put the wrong thing on the roll because it acts like solid wire when you gun out of gas.

 

[SARG]

Nope on the side of the roll is specifically says gasless flux core welding wire. I suppose they could have put the wrong thing on the roll because it acts like solid wire when you gun out of gas.

I'm easily confused. You have used flux-core wire with a mig welder using gas .. which I guess means you are also using reverse polarity on wire designed for straight polarity.

 

[Shield Arc]

SARG you want to be careful just amusing things with welding, it can be very confusing for the most experienced weldor. There are gas less flux core wires that run on straight polarity, as well as reverse polarity. There are flux core wires, (dual shield) that run on mix gases, as well as non mixed gas. It is always best to read the manufacturer's specifications.

 

[qball98]

I'm easily confused. You have used flux-core wire with a mig welder using gas .. which I guess means you are also using reverse polarity on wire designed for straight polarity.

The wire was supposed to be used without gas and with reverse polarity according to the specs. Even when redoing the welds with different wire it was hard to got a good weld I had to grind most of the old welds out to get it to make a good weld. If I welded a spot that had not been welded with the other wire it worked just fine. It just seemed like there was something wrong with the composition of the wire. Not sure what was actually wrong I just know I won't try that wire again.