Opinions wanted on wire for outdoor use.

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I have to weld in the driveway and the past couple of weekends the wind has been making things extremely difficult. I have the usual 035 ER70 wire in the suitcase and some 045 metal cored wire that I experiment with every now and then but both seem to be easily disturbed with a light breeze. The Lincoln Outershield looks pretty good but I would like some other opinions on wire that is good for outdoor use on general projects 1/8"-1/2", no heavy equipment. If it is really heavy I'll break out the stinger.Looking for f/c or dual shield (prefered) wire but do have some requirements,>Brands that are available locally to me like Lincoln,Hobart,Esab,Stoody>Reasonable price Minimal spatter>All position>Easy slag removal or self peeling slag>If it uses gas, must be 75/25Thanks, ChrisLast edited by Chris T.; 05-14-2014 at 03:07 PM.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I would go with some Lincoln NR-212. I used NR-211 in Alaska some days the wind blew 90-MPH. Couldn't hardly walk but could sit on my a$$ and weld for 12-hours a day. This weld here the slag was removed with a wire wheel on a 4-inch grinder. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:That cleaned up well and looks nice underneath the slag. Do you think the 212 in 045 would work on 1/8" angle and would running it in a Profax 400A gun be acceptable? (Please say no because I'm looking for an excuse to buy a f/c gun)TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:I use the Lincoln K-126 flux core guns. With .045” you might get away with using a regular Mig gun. Any bigger than .045” I think you'll have trouble when the wire gets hot. 4 or 5 months ago I welded some 2” x 3” x 1/8” wall box tube with .045” NR-212. It worked fine, but I had a good fit too. I really love Hobart's Fabshield 21-B, and it comes in .035” if .045” is too big for 1/8” material. http://www.hobartbrothers.com/produc...d%26reg%3B+21B Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Lincoln 211..035, and crank it up!!Just a couple welders, big hammers, grinders, and torches.Work will free you.Men in dirty jeans built this country, while men in clean suits have destroyed it. Trump/Carson 2016-2024
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI really love Hobart's Fabshield 21-B, and it comes in .035” if .045” is too big for 1/8” material. http://www.hobartbrothers.com/produc...d%26reg%3B+21B
Reply:When I use flux core I use .045 T-11 any brand in a lincoln 15 foot 250 amp conventional gun. Just take the gas nozzle off is all. Works great down to 1/8th and even a tad thinner. The .045 can be tuned down pretty low--------maybe about 75 IPM or around there. I have some .035 but seldom use it. Not enough fill for me for things over 1/8th.  I do use a protector for the diffuser but it's a tweco that I drill out just for my purposes. Most folks wouldn't go to those lengths. I prefer Hobarts wire but have been using some weldcote which works just fine. Lincoln flux core is about third down on my list for some reason. Too finicky."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Well, it seems nobody around here has the NR-212 or the Fabshield 21BThe one LWS has the Innershield 211 which I believe is the same stuff that is available at Lowes & Home Depot, and Airgas only sells the Radnor brand E71T-11 Flux core wire but I'm leary of buying a roll of that for $110-$130.Did manage to find a Miller f/c gun at a local rebuilder shop. He is inspecting it and will let me know the $ later today.On the post Tozzi made a while back about his new f/c gun, the sticker on the trigger said wire is always hot and trigger controls feed only? Am I missing something about these guns?Pic #2 http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-Flux-Core-GunLast edited by Chris T.; 05-15-2014 at 10:30 AM.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:That should be all in the wire feeder. The old Lincoln LN-22s didn't have a contactor, so the wire was hot all the time. Some LN-25s came without a contactor as well. Really has nothing to do with the gun.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Thanks for clarifying that CEP.TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Got a price on the f/c gun. It's an older rebuilt Miller FC-1260 for $200. He said it did not have a replaceable liner or cable so if it was damaged a new gun would have to be purchased. It appears to be set up for 1/16" but I found this optional liner for .045 which might work in that older model. http://www.brweldingsupplies.com/mil...-liner-199178/TOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.Well, it seems nobody around here has the NR-212 or the Fabshield 21BThe one LWS has the Innershield 211 which I believe is the same stuff that is available at Lowes & Home Depot, and Airgas only sells the Radnor brand E71T-11 Flux core wire but I'm leary of buying a roll of that for $110-$130.Did manage to find a Miller f/c gun at a local rebuilder shop. He is inspecting it and will let me know the $ later today.On the post Tozzi made a while back about his new f/c gun, the sticker on the trigger said wire is always hot and trigger controls feed only? Am I missing something about these guns?Pic #2 http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-Flux-Core-Gun
Reply:1/8-1/2" thick material? I'd use stick but that's my preference.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:RANKRANK1,Thanks for the explanation of the wire as I've only had experience with the regular solid wires. I was leary of purchasing the Radnor brand but if it is the same AWS# it should perform the same. I had some of the NR-211 when I got my first little mig (which went back as soon as I used it) and me and that wire did not get along. SNOEPROE,I do use stick on a lot of projects especially when working with less then perfect material. I like to switch processes every now and then to keep from getting "rusty".I went to another LWS today and he has a new Profax F/C gun that comes with a 3/32 liner but can also use a .035-.045 liner. I like the fact that he has all of the tips, insulators and replacement necks in stock at all times. Also got a price on a roll of the NR-212 and it is the same as the Radnor stuff so I'll give that a try once everything comes in.Sent from my SPH-L710 using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Yes get Lincoln NR-211. I burned up 2 rolls last week while I was waiting to get a 12.5lb roll of 0.025 lincoln wire.I forgot how nice it welds.I hadn't used it in a few years and was starting to think "FCAW = ewwwwww"Dont for get to switch polarity from GMAW.I am going to pick up a 10lb roll or 2 of NR-211 for when the world goes to $#!+.old Miller spectrum 625 Lincoln SP-135 T, CO2+0.025 wireMiller model 250 and WP-18V torchCraftsman 100amp AC/DC and WP-17V torchCentury 115-004 HF arc stabilizerHome made 4 transformer spot welderHome made alternator welder
Reply:Originally Posted by mad welder 4I am going to pick up a 10lb roll or 2 of NR-211 for when the world goes to $#!+.
Reply:Originally Posted by rankrank1E71T-GS is NOT suitable for multi-pass welding, but is seismic rated if you need that for code compliance.
Reply:I think NR-211 is the best flux core I have ever used and everybody who I have ever worked with liked it best too. If I run NR-212 it seem like I have to run it cold to get good shielding over all of the weld.Last edited by NBS Welding; 07-24-2014 at 10:43 PM.The worst thing I can think of happening is if everything I ever welded instantly became UNWELDED
Reply:Lincoln invented SSFC Innershield forget the other brand stuff. No gas shielded works in the wind .tent or forget it. For code work NR 232 / NR 233 / NR 311 all D1.8 qualified.
Reply:Could you set up a self supporting welding screen ? I just goggled this one, http://www.esafetysupplies.com/Radno...Fc1_Mgodqn0ALQ   I made my own and have used it many times. It helps having a heavy base . Works great for spray painting outside too.Another option if welding on table;  I made a 90 degree corner out of sheet metal to block wind. Mine is 2'x 2' x 2' and helps. I just move it around as needed.
Reply:The Hobart Fabshield 21b has seemed to work fairly well (for the little time I have been able to work on home projects). I think my poor experience with the NR211 may have been operator error as far as settings and me being easilly frustrated. Going to be moving into a new shop soon where I will not have to worry about welding outsideTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Will have to order a roll and give it a try.Sent from my GT-P3113 using TapatalkTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:When I ran dual shield I had a hard time with porosity if there was any wind iIhated it, some guys could weld with it in the wind but I couldn't thats why I loved self shielded wire.Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:Originally Posted by 7A749It's good stuff. We couldn't get CS 11 in 10 lb rolls, only CS 15.It's sweet running wire. I still prefer to stick weld, at least for my piddley little stuff anyways. On the big jobs, flux core rules. The best way I can describe CS 15 is it had a very strong arc, like 6010, but lays down like 7018. .035 wire will run awesome on like 15.5-17 volts. You don't need much to make it work. It was my first experience with self shielding wire.How's that Monarch running?
Reply:If you want some real heartache in your life, gets some NR-232.  Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400I don't think the little XMT304 is up to running .068"That is one massive coupon!Time to upgrade to a Dimension 652 & 74 digital feederTOO MANY TOOLS & NO MORE SPACE
Reply:Originally Posted by Chris T.I don't think the little XMT304 is up to running .068"
Reply:YUP the 350 is king , you blue and yellow guys should see Red and Grey for welders and filler metal. We run a fleet of DC-600 /DC-1000/DC-800 MG sets LN -8 / LN -9. / LT-7 /NA -5/LT -56 feeders building bridges 103 years.
Reply:Originally Posted by PavinsteelmanYUP the 350 is king , you blue and yellow guys should see Red and Grey for welders and filler metal. We run a fleet of DC-600 /DC-1000/DC-800 MG sets LN -8 / LN -9. / LT-7 /NA -5/LT -56 feeders building bridges 103 years.
Reply:Great machine we run some too ,best value for dollar the 305 is great but a lot of money .Next get a old TM-500 ac/dc for stick ,gouging and sub arc. Or at least the Tombstone 250 ac/dc min for stick. Run Outershield .045 71M Elite, ran over 100 tons of it on the trade center.