Thread: MIG welding

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I've got a Lincoln SP-135 MIG welder and am currently using .025 ER70S-6 wire and 75/25 Argon/CO2 gas. This set up is for body mods and repairs. Is there a better choice of wire for this purpose. I'm thinking something a little "softer" sure would make things go a bit quicker. Would like to hear what others are using.
Bob

I have used ESAB or Linde "Easy grind" wire with good results.

I've never used easy grind (yet), but I've got some silicon/bronze, .030". You can hammer and dolly it quite a bit and it finishes nice. The only problem I've come across, is it doesn't hold up well on the edge of a panel that can vibrate. It will crack. Otherwise I recommend it. You will notice it is goldish in color and sounds a little different when welding. I hate ER70S. Hard a rock. If you are intersted, the alloy is SIB and made by Harris Welco.

030 is my all around choice for modification and rust repairs,,,JMO

30 is what I use but not for sheetmetal or nothing... Too big. 25 should be good. I never really experimented with anything else and when I ask others about that soft kind of wire they don't really know what they are talking about or never really used it themselfs. Maybe next time I am out I will go pick up some of it and see how well it does and use it on my golf cart (good practice vehicle).

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm just a hobbyist and don't do a lot of welding and just guessed that there is something better for bodywork than what I am using. I welded up the seam on my 52 hood last night then spent a long time grinding. I am planning on pie cutting it to pancake that nose down a few inches. To me the car looks better without the hood because of the tall, blunt nose so I'm hoping this will smooth up the front. I wanted to try a softer wire on this hopefully to create less heat and to save a little time with the grinder. I welded in 5 second passes and jumped around to keep the heat down but still had some warping. It may not have helped any that I used about a half dozen pair of vice grips along the seam to close it up before I welded it. Now I've got to figure out how to straighten it back out but I would guess I'll do that after pancaking it. Some stress may get relieved when I cut it up. Feel free to throw any advice my way.
Bob

Thanks for everyone's input. I'm just a hobbyist and don't do a lot of welding and just guessed that there is something better for bodywork than what I am using. I welded up the seam on my 52 hood last night then spent a long time grinding. I am planning on pie cutting it to pancake that nose down a few inches. To me the car looks better without the hood because of the tall, blunt nose so I'm hoping this will smooth up the front. I wanted to try a softer wire on this hopefully to create less heat and to save a little time with the grinder. I welded in 5 second passes and jumped around to keep the heat down but still had some warping. It may not have helped any that I used about a half dozen pair of vice grips along the seam to close it up before I welded it. Now I've got to figure out how to straighten it back out but I would guess I'll do that after pancaking it. Some stress may get relieved when I cut it up. Feel free to throw any advice my way.
Bob

Check out this thread on the "Hotrodder's Bulletin board." It's about a MIG welding wire called "Twenty Gauge":

http://www.hotrodders.com/showthread...t=twenty+gauge

The thread is quite long, and the are various people who get the info wrong at times. To summarize:

1 - The name has nothing to do with the size of the MIG wire. It's just the name the manufacturer came up with.

2 - It is NOT flux cored. You MUST use shielding gas with it.

3 - It is specifically designed for welding on thin sheet metal such as is used on car bodies.

In the thread, it's not entirely clear if it's softer than regular welding wire, but it apparently lays down a thinner bead, so less grinding is required.

I have not personally used it yet, but have been meaning to get some. As a result, I have no personal experience with it (yet).

Thanks,
PeterM

Peter,
That looks like exactly what I need! Actually looks like what everyone that welds light guage needs if they hate grinding as much as I do. I will try to find some next week and will post on it. Has anyone got any experience with this wire?
Bob

U can turn the heat up on the welder and the wire speed down and do minute little tacks and use the heat to melt the panels together,instead of lots of wire and lots o grindin,I do not know which is soft and which wire is hard,but the hard stuff is almost impossible to grind without producing as much heat as welding!