What sized wire for 1/4" plate for smoker build?

[bnew17]

What size flux core wire will i need out of my 180 amp Hobart welder? One the chart it tells me to use .35 for 1/4" steel but i have read to use bigger wire in other places. Ive also got SOME 3/8" plate to weld too. New to welding so i thought i would ask here before getting started. Right now i have .35 wire.
 

 

[boykjo]

Flux core can be little pain in the butt....but if you want to go that route .035 flux core wire will be fine.......Be sure to Keep the gun and cable stretched out when welding. You don't want to kink the flux core wire any or it will keep burning back up into the tip... I actually drilled out my tip a little bit bigger so the fc would move through the tip better......and pull when welding with flux core not push the MiG gun........

I would suggest you get a bottle of gas 75/25 Argon and Carbon Dioxide and go with solid wire.....watch a couple of videos on youtube....

Joe
 

 

[ribwizzard]

If your just spot welding, .035 will be fine, If your running long beads and want them to look professional, get .045. Trust me, its what I do.

 

[daveomak]

bnew, morning.... Is your Hobart gun designed for gas ??  If so, why use flux core ??? About wire size... I have used .035 for welding about everything including 3/4" when fitting up attachments on farm implements.....  It's slow, but works well....    Production welding will use bigger wire to increase productivity and profit...  Preheat pieces to improve penetration if necessary.....  Leave a 1/32" gap to improve penetration also... there are a lot of techniques/tricks to welding...  good luck....  Dave 

 

[ribwizzard]

Let me know if you need any more info.

 

[bnew17]

I couldnt find any .045 flux core at tractor supply or home depot. I will probably get set up and use gas down the road bit for now im going to try out the flux core.

 

[JckDanls 07]

The problem with flux core is the splatter... It really looks like chit when your done... the gas keeps the splatter to a minimum... try it on some scrap steel first and see what it looks like...

 

[daveomak]

I couldnt find any .045 flux core at tractor supply or home depot. I will probably get set up and use gas down the road bit for now im going to try out the flux core.

bnew, morning...   If you are planning on setting up for GMAW (gas, metal arc welding) in the future, doing so now will save you hours in cleaning up the spatter from your work and it will look so much better....  flux core is similar to stick in the spatter it creates...  a real PITA...  

What sizes of flux core wire are available where you shop ??  Using flux core wire, you need to use a larger wire size because the inside of the wire is filled with flux, just like the name suggests.... It is an inside out stick welding rod.... 

 

[boykjo]