What gas mixture(s) should I get for mig welding?

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I just got a miller 252 to replace my flux core welder. Should I get small wire like .024 and a 75% c02 and 25% argon mix for welding exhaust ? Should I get a 100% c02 tank for when I do welds on thicker things that I need strength not looks, like on a tractor bucket?  Am I correct about what I am thinking or would you all suggest something else?
Reply:I've found that Ar/CO 75/25 and .024 wire is plenty adequate for MIG up to 3/16. When welding 1/4", I switch to stick rather than swapping out wire and gas.Be wary of The Numbers: Figures don't lie,. but liars can figure.Welders:2008 Lincoln 140 GMAW&FCAW2012 HF 165 'toy' GTAW&SMAW1970's Cobbled together O/A
Reply:I wouldn't worry either way - For this wire of Lincoln's, the 100% CO2 and the 75/25 mix are about dead even.As-welded 75/25 has a slight edge actually.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Get a 33lb spool of .030 wire. Er70s6.155cu ft bottle of 75%ar 25%co2....Weld on!! 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:Pick the wire size based on the material you will be welding most.  I believe the 252 has charts that take it from 22 gauge to 1/2 (and .035 will cover it all).When was the last time you had to weld 1/2 plate?  .035 wire is a bit on the heavy side to do gauge work.  Recommend .030 or .023.As for gas. in the USA, C25 or 25% CO2 / 75% Argon is the most popular of the mixed gases.  That's important if you need to swap bottles.  Special order of small quantities gets expensive.  If you go with the C10 or C8 gases, you can typically only get them in the bigger bottles and typically the door charts on the welders don't have a decent starting position.  C25 settings will be a bit ropey (not enough heat).  Recommend C25.If you go with a .030 or .023 wire, you can get it from some Home Depots (Lincoln brand wire) which seems to work well enough for me.  10# rolls.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:No one gas will do everything. 1st you need to decide what you want to do, then choose the gas that fits best. 2nd look at what other things you want to do and see how well that gas will work for those.I wouldn't worry too much about welding thicker stuff. The MM252 has the output to weld pretty much whatever you most likely need to do, even with 75/25. If you have enough stuff that needs heavy welds, a mix that gets you up into spray arc shouldn't be that much of an issue. 100 % CO2 isn't going to let you do that anyways. You'd need to jump to a dual shield wire, and they make those that work with both CO2 and 75/25. Just pick the right wire..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I just got a 80c.f. tank of 90/10 argon/CO2  Airgas today. $125 total,  but as I was downsizing from a 125 Airgas neckring bottle I owned, I ended up paying $50 for the gas with credit for the smaller bottle.   Will have it filled at a cheaper LWS in the future.  I was stuck with using them because of the stamped bottle.  Now all 7 of my bottles are blank!Got that mix for portable use that will let me short circuit and spray transfer with the same gasTiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:C25 for auto body, CO2 for everything else.On a 252 use 0.030 wire for pretty much everything unless doing thin stuff, like auto body.I ran a 250 series for a while with 0.030 inch L-56 wire and CO2. Its hard to not like it.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:Wire size has maximum carrying capacities.  If you are following the old 1 amp for .001".    .030 wire caps out around 130 amps, which means if you are looking for more than1/8 penetration you need to up your wire size.
Reply:.030 wire & 75/25 argon co2 mix. Turn and burn.
Reply:Good stuff, thanks fellas.