welding wire

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I'm having some feeding problems with the MIG wire at work.Yes I've changed the liner etc.. I think it's the wire.( 308/316 .o45)  It's a no-name brand from China. Our supplier and the boss say all wire is made the same. It's all made in China on the same machines etc... What is the quality control on MIG wire? Is it all the same theses days or are the name brands still better? thanks.
Reply:Originally Posted by zezerbingI'm having some feeding problems with the MIG wire at work.Yes I've changed the liner etc.. I think it's the wire.( 308/316 .o45)  It's a no-name brand from China. Our supplier and the boss say all wire is made the same. It's all made in China on the same machines etc... What is the quality control on MIG wire? Is it all the same theses days or are the name brands still better? thanks.
Reply:What problems are you having?  I am having issues with 316 wire arcing in the tip now when I run RMD/accupulse programs.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Thats what I thought. I've been welding for 27 yrs. This place that I'm at now is strange.The owner and son are business people, not hands on. The son says "look dad, I saved $5.00, arndt you proud of me?". We use lincoln, .045 metal core for the steel work, It runs great. I don't know where the son gets the stainless. Like I said it has no names of any kind on it. I think he orders it over the web. It's very inconsistant. Runs good then doesn't. It has a bad cast to it, maybe hard spots.We find metal shavings around the drive wheels. Were told we don't know how to weld. They got the supplier on the phone and he's all...." yea it's all the same, please order more from me"... But it's not just welding. The wood he buys to build skids and boxes still has bark on it!! I guess I can't blame them, they only made $30 million last year.
Reply:Cheap welding wire will make the cost savings per pound look like peanuts when all the wasted time and rework is added up. Then add in the cost of the wire when it is thrown away after they realize how much the cheap wire is realy costing.