What size solid wire?

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I am going to switch over to gas(75%Ar -25%CO2) and solid wire on my Hobart 180 mig welder.I've been using .030 flux core.However, when I was about to buy the wire I was a little confused on exactly what size to buy.I don't really plan to weld anything thicker than 1/4 inch. Mainly, I will be welding .120 wall steel tubing and 1/8 sheet.  But, I will see some 3/16 here and there.Is .030 the right choice?  Or, should I use .035??   The guy at PRAXAIR told me the thin wire is really only used for body work
Reply:Go with the .030 wire on the 180 for the material listed. If you plan on doing any autobody sheet metal work the .023 wire is better suited for that. The.023 lets you weld the thin material with less wrapage.
Reply:The .030" will do anything the machine is capable of.  If you have a big sheet metal job, then get some .023" to do that a little more easily.
Reply:I'm not overly familiar with that machine but the .035 may not run as well on that machine.... so as already mentioned .030 is probably your best choice._________________Chris
Reply:don't forget to get a .030" or .023" contact tips with whichever wire you get, that is, unless you have them already. As well as making sure you have a gas nozzle.as stated above, .030" is good for most jobs, but anything thinner than 14 gage, go with .023". It's easier to work with.
Reply:well, looks like I didnt get much of a choice anywayz ...  they only had .030 or .025? at Home Depot.I went with Lincoln Electric .030.  Only got a 2lb spool because I wasn't sure about it and didnt have any responses here.  Looks like I shoulda got the 10lb spool instead.  Oh well.My welder came with .030 tips anyways....  How often are you supposed to replace tips?  Can you just clean um and re-use too????
Reply:Originally Posted by tommyj3Go with the .030 wire on the 180 for the material listed. If you plan on doing any autobody sheet metal work the .023 wire is better suited for that. The.023 lets you weld the thin material with less wrapage.
Reply:Originally Posted by FasterNUwell, looks like I didnt get much of a choice anywayz ...  they only had .030 or .025? at Home Depot.I went with Lincoln Electric .030.  Only got a 2lb spool because I wasn't sure about it and didnt have any responses here.  Looks like I shoulda got the 10lb spool instead.  Oh well.My welder came with .030 tips anyways....  How often are you supposed to replace tips?  Can you just clean um and re-use too????
Reply:Originally Posted by FasterNUwell, looks like I didnt get much of a choice anywayz ...  they only had .030 or .025? at Home Depot.I went with Lincoln Electric .030.  Only got a 2lb spool because I wasn't sure about it and didnt have any responses here.  Looks like I shoulda got the 10lb spool instead.  Oh well.My welder came with .030 tips anyways....  How often are you supposed to replace tips?  Can you just clean um and re-use too????
Reply:nice thanks for the tip... i think I'll go check that out on e-bay now.... wonder about shipping making it the same as buying locally though...
Reply:And once again, .023, .024, and.025 are all the same wire. I run .030 in my 220V Lincoln baby mig and it does anything Dad or my little brother want it to do(it lives at Dad's house).Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:So am I screwing up running .035 wire in my 180?  My stuff seems to stick together pretty good. I have welded everything from 18 gauge square tubing to some pretty hefty steel on my wood splitter with it. Hard for me to imagine that I would be happier with .030 but I am willing to give it a try if y'all say so.
Reply:So am I screwing up running .035 wire in my 180? My stuff seems to stick together pretty good.