Drive rolls

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Like a dummy, I bought some drive rolls without REALLY looking at the description, twice!!! I have 1/16" "U" groove, which is for aluminum. And I also bought .052" "V" groove, which is for solid wire. Has anyone had luck using rolls for wire they were not specifically made for? I am basically asking if either of these can be used with flux-cored, "tubular" wire's? Or am I going to have issue's. I am aware that for flux-core, you ideally want "V" knurled."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Hello Stick-man, although the correct roll for the applicable wire is always desirable you can still have success with non-standard applications. Think of it this way, if you can get the U-groove rolls to work for your 1/16" flux-core wire you will have less tip wear and likely less dirtying of the liner due to the wire not having "spurs" to carry dirt and fracture while travelling through the liner. You also won't have those spurs to wear as hard on the contact tip as the wire is passing through. So if you can maintain the straightness of the liner while welding and get the drive roll pressure and spool drag dialed-in, you will still likely be able to make trouble-free welds, etc. Can't necessarily apply the same sort of logic to a V-groove roll as they are likely a bit more singularly purposed, yet some of the same might apply. Experimentation will answer your questions though. Good luck and regards, Allanaevald
Reply:Try them and see how it works, I think it would be fine. I have mixed different top and bottom rollers before and it worked fine. There's a lot of forgiveness in a drive system provided you have a good liner and your rolls are in alignment.
Reply:@ aevald - Thanks and I agree. But I was hoping someone else had already done the experiment.@ 7A749 - Hey bud, just trying to get what I don't have. I will take inventory and text you what I have. Then, I will buy from you any that you have and I don't."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Since the subject is drive rolls and I just bought a used LN25 does any one have a good source for them? Thanks in advance.
Reply:What style and size? I have several sets I will never use, bigger flux  wire. I picked up .035 and .045 on ebay
Reply:The standard V-grooved rollers will work just fine. Just make sure you don't put so much pressure on the rollers that you crush the tubular wire.-Hillbilly
Reply:Originally Posted by gundog77Since the subject is drive rolls and I just bought a used LN25 does any one have a good source for them? Thanks in advance.
Reply:Originally Posted by soutthpawI have found downloading the Profax/Lenco catalog and then finding the rollers you need in their brand specific listings.  Put that partt number in the search at weldingsupply.com.  prices are really good.   I ordered 2 complete sets for my MM350P recently that way.
Reply:Thanks for the information.
Reply:Ok, so off subject maybe. We have a miller 70 series feeder head and just purchased V-knurled drive rolls for running .045 and 1/16 dual shield (lincoln outershield 71 elite specifically). So, I haven't yet but dad has run quite a bit of wire through the 045 rolls and has had issues with the wire jamming up when there is any hick up such as the wire sticking to the contact tip. First thought is that the knurled drive rolls aren't slipping any and when the wire sticks to the tip the drive rolls keep feeding and makes quite the mess as you can imagine. He said he loosened the tension all the way and adjusted to where they would just feed and still has the problem. I still have the 1/16 drive rolls packaged and want to return if I need to get different ones. I'm wondering if anyone has had the same issues or have any suggestions. Thanks in advance.
Reply:Originally Posted by WelderDudeOk, so off subject maybe. We have a miller 70 series feeder head and just purchased V-knurled drive rolls for running .045 and 1/16 dual shield (lincoln outershield 71 elite specifically). So, I haven't yet but dad has run quite a bit of wire through the 045 rolls and has had issues with the wire jamming up when there is any hick up such as the wire sticking to the contact tip. First thought is that the knurled drive rolls aren't slipping any and when the wire sticks to the tip the drive rolls keep feeding and makes quite the mess as you can imagine. He said he loosened the tension all the way and adjusted to where they would just feed and still has the problem. I still have the 1/16 drive rolls packaged and want to return if I need to get different ones. I'm wondering if anyone has had the same issues or have any suggestions. Thanks in advance.