How to choose flux core wire?

[farmer2009]

I am having a 110 volt Lincoln wire feeder given to me. I have a buzz box for stick welding so this will be for light duty stuff. Think it may be a 140. It doesn't have a gas set up on it so it straight flux core. I'm thinking I need a roll of .030 & .035 wire. But my question is are there different types? If so what do I want to get?

Main welding is mild steel. Just need to be able to go thinner than my buzz box will allow.

Thanks for any help.

 

[Shield Arc]

Hard to beat Hobart's Fabshield 21-B, and Lincoln's NR-211. These are great T-11 general purpose fab wires.

 

[s219]

From what I saw, if I would only have one wire size for a 115V flux-core machine, 0.030" is a good size. It covers most of the range the machine can weld (the 125A machines normally top out at 3/16" material, the 140A machines go to 1/4" material). This is the wire I have been using with good results:

Hobart Flux Welding Wire — .030 | Welding Sticks Wire| Northern Tool + Equipment

 

[farmer2009]

Hard to beat Hobart's Fabshield 21-B, and Lincoln's NR-211. These are great T-11 general purpose fab wires.

Thanks Shield Arc. I got there today not knowing that it had a 10 lb. spool of .035 NR-211 with it. It's a 125, but that should be a good compliment to my buzz box.

It's from my grandfather, he bought it about 3 years ago and then about 18 months later had a pacemaker installed. Doctors told him to never weld again. He can braze and cut with an oxy set but no welding. I was the next one who didn't have a wire welder. Both his kids have their own already.

I'll try to get some pictures of it tomorrow.

 

[Shield Arc]

Over the years I've had several welding inspectors tell me they never seen anybody who could pass a bend test with NR-211. Last summer I found a roll of NR-211 in my Dad's barn that I took off a job in the early 1980s. The roll had rust on it. So being as I have all the time in the world, I thought I'd try my luck! :laughing:

 

[BukitCase]

Not bad for a guy who's only into his FOURTH week of welding :laughing:

Seriously, being only a week behind you I get a smile on my face if/when I can make a weld look ALMOST that good with short circuit/C25 :cool2:...Steve

 

[farmer2009]

Nice welding there should arc. How thick was the metal? How many passes?

 

[Shield Arc]

Not bad for a guy who's only into his FOURTH week of welding :laughing:

Has it been that long already? Boy time flies when you're having fun!:laughing:

How thick was the metal? How many passes?

3/4" thick. I don't remember, have a picture that says 8.

 

[farmer2009]

Here's the picture I promised.

 

[farmer2009]

Yes that is an old pressure washer cart that it's bolted to.

Here's some piddling I did today. The settings are wrote on the segments. Been about 15 years since I did any wire welding and I always went back to a stick then. I know they're no good but maybe someone can help me with what I'm doing wrong. It's 10ga metal.




If I remember right 3D is what the machine called for. After it got warm it started to surge. Wouldn't weld smooth. Or maybe it's me. I've got about 4 hours messing with a wire welder and a quarter of it was today.