ER70S-6 Lincoln L-56 or.......what else

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I wanted to ask this to some unbiased individuals and people who aren't standing behind the counter.I have been running Lincoln superarc L-56. I believe its ER70S-6.  Its .035 size.I have been able to get it for about $103 a 44lb spool.  The people at airgas say thats crazy to spend so much on wire when I can get the "SAME STUFF" for $70 a spool just in a different brand, Radnor is one that comes to mind.Today all three of the welding guys at the store said none of there big clients use Lincoln's wire because its to expensive and these other "brands" are just as good.Can someone help me out with this subject. I thought I'd get some opinions before I try something else.
Reply:Supposedly Radnor is Lincoln wire. At least according to my airgas supplier.Airco 300 squarewaveMig welding center...Powcon sm300/LN 25Powcon sm200/PD lHypertherm PM 1100Miller AEAD 200LE W/LN25 FCand now another sm200 pd l combo.
Reply:If the spec is ER70S-6, it will be good wire.  I find Lincoln to be great wire.  I use Thermal Arc .045 ER70S-6 wire (A dollar a pound) and can't tell the difference from Lincoln.  I used some cheap chineeeeese stuff that I actually took the roll back because it was supposed to be .035, but I measured it and it was .030.  It raised hell with my pulsed mig set on .035.  ESAB  (linde 86) makes good wire, and so does Harris, but the Harris runs totally different.  I like it, but it sure has a different arc on pulsed spray than lincoln or Thermal Arc.  I never used Radnor.Its a personal preference thing.Good luck getting an "unbiased" opinion"  DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Yeah they told me the same thing about the Radnor. they had a bunch more brands i just can't remember the names.My question is, if radnor is made by lincoln and its the "same wire". Why is it $30 cheaper?
Reply:Depending on what machine you use, all wires are not created equally. Hobart HB-28 is good stuff for my Millers, but it is pricey and hard for me to get. My mainstay wire has been Pinnacle because that is what my LWS carries and at 1/2 the price to a little more than half the cost of the L-56. It runs much the same as the HB-28 for me. Washington Alloy is fairly good stuff, what I've seen of it, anyway. Both the Pinnacle and WA are Korean and usually precision wound...at least the stuff I get is precision wound.If you are married to Lincoln, price out the plain old 70S-6 wire..not the L-56. It is usually much cheaper than the L-56 and runs fine. That may be what the Radnor wire is. My machines run the S-6 and Radnor just fine, but really don't like the L-56. I can control the spatter on the S-6 and Radnor to almost nil...but can't do a thing with the L-56. They changed it somehow when they started making it in Mexico.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:I have run the Radnor wire quite a bit without any problems whatsoever.  Now I am running Atlantic er70s-6 .035 and for the price I love it.  Everything that carries the Radnor name is made by a large manufacturer to airgas's spec.  With that said I have also been told that Lincoln makes the radnor wire.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I cant tell a difference between the radnor and Lincoln L56. $103  for #44!!!! bend over for that.$70 is still high for the radnor. I was paying $56 for my 44 lb radnor spool, they went up to $65 and told them to stick it. I bought the lincoln stuff (early jan of this year bought 5 spools) for about $60 for 44lbs for 035 (045 is even cheaper). The cheapest L56I found of the web form weldingsupply.com Buy about 4-5 rolls at a time and save money on shipping.I just looked at welding webs prices and they too went up sky high. but they are still cheaper than airgas anyday. they are now 80 bucks for a 44lbs spool.if you do buy the radnor tell they that too much, and you want a lower price.Last edited by ace4059; 10-09-2008 at 04:05 AM.
Reply:I'm paying $1.40/# for the Pinnacle in .035/44# every day.QamuIs Heg qaq law' lorvIs yInqaq puS
Reply:looks like i'll be checking out Weldingsupply to see if shipping will kill me. $80 a spool is fine with me.