Welding Wire Size Selection
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Welding wire size selection. The most common wire type is er4043 for all purpose work. As an example let s assume you have a 400 amp power source at 60 duty cycle and need a total combined length of electrode plus work cables of 100 feet. The right mig wire for that application may make some pre welding operations obsolete. Or answer questions about the other details they used to make the weld.
Mig welding stainless steel has a variety of electrodes because it is used on a wide range of projects that require different types of stainless steel grades. Especially when they take the time to list details like filler wire size. It is also commonly welded to carbon steel on the same jobs. Er5356 is a stiffer wire easier to feed and is used when more rigid higher strength weld properties are needed.
Only use a push gun technique when welding aluminum. Take for instance a plate with surface contaminants. Check with your machine manufacturer for any information that may pertain to your welding system. It can be more forgiving and produce a sound weld even under less than perfect conditions.
Other charts are available from cable manufacturers and welding reference books. Some manufacturers also twist the wire while packing it into the drum which results in the wire forming a sine wave instead of a loop when it is dispensed. Figure 5 is an example of a chart for selecting the proper welding cable size. Mig wire electrode label meaning for a er70s 6 label stainless steel mig welding electrode selection and choices.
Straight wire is a common selling point for bulk packed wires since it is easier to feed straight wire than curved wire. Selecting a quality mig wire is critical. I pay attention when someone posts a great looking weld on instagram. The most common welding wire types used are.
The most common welding electrode wires used by welders generally come with a thickness between 0 023 0 045 when choosing welding wire for heavy industrial applications the wire size will be even thicker than the above. The welding wire and welding process both influence the selection. In this video we cover which size welding wire you should use when to change sizes and how to adjust your mig welder machine settings for different wires. Other charts are available from cable manufacturers and welding reference books.
Figure 5 is an example of a chart for selecting the proper welding cable size. Double click on chart to view quick guide for selecting mig wire size and welder amperage for your application.