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Hot Rods Mig Wire .023, .025, or .035?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Fortunateson, Oct 13, 2019.

?
  1. .023

    91 vote(s)
    69.5%
  2. .025

    15 vote(s)
    11.5%
  3. .035

    25 vote(s)
    19.1%
  1. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    Title basically says it all except "what's your preference" for sheet metal welding...?
    Chime in guys.
     
    flatford39 likes this.
  2. use both 23 and 35...sheetmetal 23 chassis work 35
     
  3. LM14
    Joined: Dec 18, 2009
    Posts: 1,936

    LM14
    Member Emeritus
    from Iowa

    I have my 110V MIG set up with .023 for Sheetmetal work. My 220V has .030 in it for heavier welding.

    SPark
     
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2019

  4. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    I just keep a roll of 030 in it. Unless I remember wrong, which is highly likely. I suppose I could go look!
     
    osage orange, Sporty45 and lumpy 63 like this.
  5. I have a Lincoln 255, and like mrharley51, I use .023 for sheet metal and .035 for everything else.
    Bob
     
    Hnstray and john worden like this.
  6. .023 for sheet metal
    Even use it with TIG sometimes
     
  7. I have not tried this with my TIG, although I have saved some short pieces of MIG wire for this purpose.
    Bob
     
    anthony myrick likes this.
  8. flatford39
    Joined: Dec 3, 2006
    Posts: 2,799

    flatford39
    Member

    .023 mostly...interesting thread that I want to keep an eye on as I have some heavy chassis welding coming up.

    Another question related to this...do you change nozzle size with wire size??? Been using a half inch nozzle but am thinking of going to a 3/8 with the .023 to see the puddle better.

    Thoughts??
     
    Atwater Mike likes this.
  9. Budget36
    Joined: Nov 29, 2014
    Posts: 13,174

    Budget36
    Member

    I have .023 in one, .030 in another and .035 in another. Prefer the .023 for sheetmetal, but have used the .030 with no issues either. Never tried the .035 though. My .030 is in my old Millermatic 35, let's off a real soft spark.
     
  10. I am using a 1/2 nozzle right now, but recently bought a complete Bernard cable and gun, assembly with both 1/2 and 3/8th nozzles. Seeing that I use .023 more than the .035, my intention is to give using the smaller nozzle a try.
    Bob
     
    Atwater Mike and flatford39 like this.
  11. OLDSMAN
    Joined: Jul 20, 2006
    Posts: 2,422

    OLDSMAN
    BANNED

    I use .023 basically because I do so much sheet metal work. I have welded 1/4 plate with the .023 wire as well
     
    Montana1 and flatford39 like this.
  12. Fortunateson
    Joined: Apr 30, 2012
    Posts: 5,331

    Fortunateson
    Member

    What, nobody casting a vote? You know that there are some places in this world that you are not allowed to vote on which wire size you use!
     
    Spoggie and razoo lew like this.
  13. x2
     
    Sporty45 and gasser57! like this.
  14. DDDenny
    Joined: Feb 6, 2015
    Posts: 19,144

    DDDenny
    Member
    from oregon

    When I bought my Miller 200 in the late 80's I had plans for structural work as well as sheetmetal so got a big roll of .030 and a small spool of .023. Started with the .030 for some 3/8" then changed it over to the smaller wire for some sheetmetal work.
    I never had welded prior so it was a bit of a learning curve, no matter what I tried the .023 wire would try to ride up between the wire and when loosened it would rat nest, man, I wasted a bunch of wire until I got creative.
    I ended up making a flap out of an old plastic number panel mounted on a pivot that lightly rested on the wire and was able to use lighter tension without rat nesting.
    Changed back to the .030 for heavier work and left it there even for lighter work, just took a period of learning what settings to use.
     
    X-cpe likes this.
  15. squirrel
    Joined: Sep 23, 2004
    Posts: 55,942

    squirrel
    Member

    yeah, mine is 030
     
    osage orange and lumpy 63 like this.
  16. rc57
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 727

    rc57
    Member

    .030 here too
     
    osage orange likes this.
  17. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Should probably add .030 to the ballot:D
     
    osage orange likes this.
  18. s55mercury66
    Joined: Jul 6, 2009
    Posts: 4,335

    s55mercury66
    Member
    from SW Wyoming

    .030 here also.
     
    osage orange likes this.
  19. ekimneirbo
    Joined: Apr 29, 2017
    Posts: 4,217

    ekimneirbo

    I would keep both 023 and 030 on hand. Then switch when you need to. With 023 wire I find that you need to use an 023 liner to help keep the wire from jaming. With 030, you can use an 030 or 035 liner and tip.......most of the time 030 will do just about anything. I decided I was too lazy to switch rollers,wire,liner,and tip, so I bought a smaller (but 220) welder to just run 023.
    You can do sheetmetal with 030 but you usually have to fix some holes along the way. The 023 is much easier to use on sheetmetal.

    That said, my large welder is giving me a problem, so I grabbed the little mig with the 023 wire and dialed it up to weld on my thick tractor bucket (3/8). Did just fine......I was surprised.
     
    stillrunners likes this.
  20. ekimneirbo
    Joined: Apr 29, 2017
    Posts: 4,217

    ekimneirbo

    I think the problem might have been that you didn't change the liner.
     
  21. JR Vig
    Joined: Jun 25, 2019
    Posts: 1

    JR Vig

    .023 for just about everything... seems to do the trick.
     
  22. 1946caddy
    Joined: Dec 18, 2013
    Posts: 2,060

    1946caddy
    Member
    from washington

  23. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    Always use the matching liners ,tips and rollers for the wire you are using.. Otherwise you are just looking to be frustrated.
     
  24. lumpy 63
    Joined: Aug 2, 2010
    Posts: 2,603

    lumpy 63
    Member

    o_O
     
  25. 1946caddy
    Joined: Dec 18, 2013
    Posts: 2,060

    1946caddy
    Member
    from washington

    Miller XMT 304 welder with LN25 wire box.
    Use .035 for short arc and .045 for spray.
    30A spool gun for aluminum.
    180 SD syncrowave for tig on sheetmetal, wire size according to metal thickness
     
    stillrunners likes this.
  26. I run .023 in my 110v machine for the little stuff and .030 in the 220v
     
  27. doyoulikesleds
    Joined: Jul 12, 2014
    Posts: 306

    doyoulikesleds

    cannt vote no 0.030, 0.045 or 0.062
     
    osage orange likes this.
  28. jvo
    Joined: Nov 11, 2008
    Posts: 267

    jvo
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    I use .030
     
    osage orange likes this.
  29. classiccarjack
    Joined: Jun 30, 2009
    Posts: 1,465

    classiccarjack
    Member

    osage orange likes this.

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