Old guy coming back with questions.

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Howdy guys.  Most probably won't remember me, since it's been probably 7-8 years since I posted here.  I got involved with other aspects of life and had to step away from the welding machine for a while.  I'm back now, and have a question that will probably seem stupid to most.I've been stick welding for years, but never had a wire feed welder of my own.  I've recently purchased a Miller 180 autoset unit second hand at an estate sale.  The thing looks nearly brand new, but it came with a 10 pound spool of wire in it that doesn't have a label on it anymore.  Is there a way to identify the wire visually?  I'm fairly certain it's a mild steel electrode, but flux core, solid, etc?Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using TapatalkContact me for any metal polishing needs you may have, my avatar is a pic of a standard, painted fire axe that I ground, sanded polished and buffed to a mirror finish.
Reply:If it has a copper coating then is most likely a er70s-6, or there abouts. if silver in color try to bend with a pliers, if it snaps easy if is most likely a flux cored wire. If it doesnt break easy could be a stainless or uncoated mild steel, but a magnet will give it away and uncoated mild steel may have surface rust on it. hope this helps ya along.
Reply:Hard wire is normally copper coated to prevent corrosion so it's easy to identify. Flux core is normally grey in color and if you snip it it's obvious it isn't solid wire. Did you have a gas bottle? That might be another clue of how it was used. Next would be to measure the wire. On a 180 it will likely be 0.024' or 0.030". You can also look at the wire feed rolls... hard wire uses smooth rolls. Shielded wires normally use knurl rolls. Hope that helps.
Reply:Thanks guys, I'm sure it's flux core now.  Silver in color, no gas hooked up, and I made a quick puddle on some scrap and it looks decent without gas, so it must be flux core.  Now, to get a bottle of gas so I can run the good solid wire.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using TapatalkContact me for any metal polishing needs you may have, my avatar is a pic of a standard, painted fire axe that I ground, sanded polished and buffed to a mirror finish.
Reply:Originally Posted by txfireguy2003Thanks guys, I'm sure it's flux core now.  Silver in color, no gas hooked up, and I made a quick puddle on some scrap and it looks decent without gas, so it must be flux core.  Now, to get a bottle of gas so I can run the good solid wire.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveRemember to switch the polarity when you go to solid wire.You are likely on DC- right now and need to go DC+ for solid wire.
Reply:Originally Posted by txfireguy2003Yessir, I knew that, but couldn't remember which was which.  It's marked on the inside panel of the machine though.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk
Reply:If you go with gas then try to get CO2. It is much cheaper, lasts longer and will give a little more penetration with the smaller machines.
Reply:Good to know, thanks Bob.  I've run a mig machine before, working in a fabrication shop, but everything was already set up, I just grabbed metal and the mig gun and ran beads.Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using TapatalkContact me for any metal polishing needs you may have, my avatar is a pic of a standard, painted fire axe that I ground, sanded polished and buffed to a mirror finish.