L-56 versus Hobart Mig Wire

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Goodafternoon, I hope this post finds everyone well. So, Im almost out of FCAW wire on my Hobart 187, and since Ill hopefully be working with some thinner steel here soon, I think I'll be going back to GMAW. Ive done some searching, and found that people say the lincoln L-56 wire runs differently than its hobart equivalent from Tractor Supply. Im just wondering which is more popular, and why that is. Ive always used the Hobart wire, but the last spool I got fed like crap and birdsnested like crazy, so I went fo FCAW for a while. Im really trying to limit potential new wires to things found at a big box store (L56 from Lowes, Hobart from TSC), because its an 80 mile trip for me to hit up the LWS.[Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:I generally prefer the Hobart Fabshield 1st, Hobart generic brand S-6 2nd and Lincoln 3rd. Nothing worth doing battle over , but all three are setting there I'll grab the Fabshield every time. Altho I do still have one roll of Hobarts .023 made in Italy that has given fits feeding since day one."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:Lanse,Between field testing the originally prototype (well over a year) to running a couple other units Hobart sent me, I've ran several 8" diameter spools of .030 ER70S-6 wire on a Handler 187. In my experience as long as the wire is a quality brand it will perform at an acceptable (good arc quality and weld puddle wet out)  level on the Handler 187. In a Hobart wire I generally run an .030 Hobart Brothers HB-28. This tends to be my go to wire. My local farm store carries the Hobart brand China wire. I've ran a couple 8" spools of .030, and feel it performed similar to HB-28. The rolls of Hobart brand wire I've ran were precision wound, so I had zero feeding issue from them..030 L-56 has good weld puddle wet out. However, with .030 L-56 I've discovered I end up with one roll that will run real smooth and clean, Then the next roll wants to produce a noticable level of spatter in the output range were the Handler 187 is usually a nearly spatter free producer.Just in case you haven't caught on by now, I'll point out that I recommending going with a .030 diameter wire.BTW, when are we going to see the You Tube video of you given that Handler 187 a bath?  It's looking pretty dust covered in your latest video.ESAB Migmaster 250 Hobart Ironman 230Multimatic 215TWECO Fabricator 181i & 211iHH125EZ - nice little fluxcore only unitMaxstar 150 STH - very nice
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyI generally prefer the Hobart Fabshield 1st, Hobart generic brand S-6 2nd and Lincoln 3rd. Nothing worth doing battle over , but all three are setting there I'll grab the Fabshield every time. Altho I do still have one roll of Hobarts .023 made in Italy that has given fits feeding since day one.