argon gas or straight CO2 gas question

admin

I need to weld 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick steel plate.I need a wire that is comparable to the stick 7018 rod, what would that wire be?With the strong wire like 7018 rod not mild wire can I use straight Co2 gas and not a mixture of Argon and Co2 gas? Would it (straight Co2 gas) result in the same quality, strength and appearance of the weld?
Reply:Just use hard wire, ER70S-6. That is a low hydrogen weld. If you are looking for a self shielded flux core, I think you will need an E71T-8. And if you are looking for a gas shielded flux core I think you would want an E71T-1.On the hard wire, CO2 will make it a little hotter with a little more spatter. C25 will cut down on the spatter.Boy I hope I got this correct. If not, I'm sure many will come along and let me know!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:If you set the welder right you don't get much spatter with CO2, just a little dif. look to the weld-usually not as clean looking. Can't help you with the flux core, never use it. For 1/2" to 1/4" I would use 70-s6 hard wire with CO2, or use 7018 if I needed to.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:Did I mention that I will be using a MIG welder and not a stick welder?
Reply:The Mig has the .035 reel drives.Will the ER70S-6 wire fit that reel wire drives?Do I need a certain groove on the wire drives? flux being different then hard wire.
Reply:Bigger issue will be how much output power your machine has available. If you need to do good quality welds on 1/4"+ material  you will need a 200 amp plus rated mig. The little 180 amp class migs will do 1/4", but joining it to 1/2" you are going to be pushing that little machine really beyond it's practical limits.We really need more info to answer your question. can a small mig equal the strength of 1/16" 7018 rod , sure no problem. You aren't going to get the same performance however as 5/16" 7018 unless you've got a mig with some serious output however, and .035 wire would probably be too small in that case. Most guys running structural welds with wire are usually running .045 or larger wire because they need to lay down some serious metal to weld up heavy sections..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