How long should tips last

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I recently purchased my first wire feed welder and it seems I am going through tips faster than I expected.  I was building a cart for the welder and ended up using 3 tips.  Then I took my welder to our shop to repair a cracked hitch on my fathers cab/chassis and added some slick rebar to a dump trailer for tie downs.  I used another 3 tips to finish.  I can feel it in the gun when it starts to vibrate and gets tougher to feed the wire, then it just starts to weld like crap.  I am using .035 flux core wire.  Would the flux core being dirtier cause the issues?  I am using antispatter as well as dipping in nozzle gel from time to time.  To me it almost looks as if the tips are just getting dirty...can you clean them and reuse them?  They have no real burn marks or anything on them, nothing sticking to them, just seem to have a sticky/dirty hole when feeding the wire.  As soon as I replace the tip it's game on with no problems.  Maybe this is normal and my expectations are unrealistic but I was told by a buddy he is able to do a couple spools before changing but he is also using gas.  Any help is greatly appreciated!This took a couple of tips itself.  It's not a whole lot of welding but most of it was done with double passes so twice what you see as well as the back side of the angle iron on the two pieces running over the top.  And before anyone says anything it was BRIGHT shiny metal before I welded it, that is NOT rust but residue from the wire.Forgot to add the welder is a Hobart 210 MVP.
Reply:The twist drills that come in a holder pin vice thing work for cleaning the inside bore out.  I suppose the ridged cleaners for oxy acetylene tips would work as well. I would guess more wire speed for that voltage setting or you are getting too tight turns in the hose like thing the liner and wire are inside. Did you stay away from that spot where the draw pin goes?  At first it looked kind of filled in now I am not sure.Last edited by fran...k.; 05-10-2012 at 09:48 PM.
Reply:I ream nasty contact tips out with my torch tip cleaner when necessary.
Reply:Optical illusion.  The plate clears with no problems or rubbing.  Probably a little over an 1/8th inch of full clearance.
Reply:How long of stick out are you using. keeping the arc to close to the tip will cause problems.For flux core, you need to between 1/4 and 1/2 inch on the stick out.The longer stick out will give better gas coverage and moves the heat away from the tip.If you are welding with the gas nozzle on, try taking it off.Long weld runs make a lot of heat and you need to get rid of it or the wire may stick in the tip.Make sure your tips are the right size for the wire you are using.
Reply:Try some anti spatter spray or nozzle gel?Millermatic 251Miller Bobcat 225Lincoln 135Victor Oxy/FuelOlder Thermal Dynamics 50 amp (paid $700 with 10 sets of consumables)