Is all MIG ER70S-6 wire made equal?

[dcox]

I am a novice welder just getting started and learning so please excuse my ignorance...

But I recently ran out of the ER70S-6 .030 wire that my welder came with. So I ordered a new 11# spool from a local supplier. Using the same gas flow and same techniques as I used previously, I noticed that my welds are NOT looking as nice and I also get a lot of brown residue around my weld. I used to run my gas at 20CFM, but turning it up to 25CFM seems to help a bit with the brown residue. What gives? Is all ER70S-6 .030 made the same? Or could I have a "cheap" MIG wire. There is no brand name on this spool...

[Mike W]

Hi and welcome to the forum. That is a good question. I have used Hobart wire for a long time. I recently picked up a couple of 30 pound spools made in Sweden. I have heard a couple of complaints from no brand marked wire. The Swedish wire seems to be fine. I am playing around with a gas mixer. I seem to get the brown soot more with a CO2/argon mix more than with just CO2. I am looking for an explanation.

[HAWK]

dcox,

Welcome to the forum.

A short answer is no. Hobart and Lincoln wires are good wires. Different people have had bad experiences with one or another wire brand or even a bad run within a brand.

I remember a friend a (very experienced all process welder) had a brand new Millermatic and could not get it to weld right at all. He had changed out gases, input power, drive rollers, guns, etc. Finally he switched out the wire and the machine was fine. He had a bad roll of wire. It happens.

[Paul Seaman]

My input would say stay away from the offshore mfg's. I really like Harris, and my supplier also sells a plain label house brand Radnor which is good also.

Good luck,

[HAWK]

Dcox,

It Is quite possible the wire you are now using has a higher silicon content leaving more of the brown residue spots in your welds. A through cleaning of the surface to remove any light mill scale may help allieviate the problem to some extent. It will not cure it totally.

[johns6]

Pjseaman, what do you consider to be offshore? Almost all the wire I find is made in Italy. Just looked at a spool of Hobart yesterday at Northern tool it was made it Italy. Went to Airgas and looked at a spool of Radnor (made in Mexico). At another welding supplier and my Miller dealer has wire that is all made in Italy. Just some observations.

[cope]

Pjseaman, what do you consider to be offshore? Almost all the wire I find is made in Italy. Just looked at a spool of Hobart yesterday at Northern tool it was made it Italy. Went to Airgas and looked at a spool of Radnor (made in Mexico). At another welding supplier and my Miller dealer has wire that is all made in Italy. Just some observations.

You definately want to steer clear of the Chi-Com stuff.

[hankj]

Looks to me like it's low bidder gets the deal. My last 10# roll of Radnor .030 ER70S-6 was made in Italy. The 33# roll of .035 was hecho en Mexico. Both from Airgas. A while back, I posted about HF wire being made in China; I think it was Mike W that pointed out he saw "Made in Italy" on a roll.

I gotta give Dcox a big "thumbs up" for even considering the wire as a problem being a newbie Migger. I know old numb-o here woudnt'a figgerd it.

Hank

[ASKANDY]

You will find that each brand may have wire from a number of areas around the world. Most wire manufacturers have a few suppliers of raw material. Hobart has 4 - 6 at any one time. There could be a big variance with in that 70S-6 spec.

a-

[Paul Seaman]

Since Mexico is a contiguous country they wouldn't be off shore. I don't want my wire being on a ship of 3 weeks in the salty ocean air, sealed or not I feel the moisture in the air contributes to premature oxidation. This has no proven fact it is just my opinion, and I am stuck with it. I have run 80# of Harris stamped MADE IN USA and no notable problems and my tip life is great. If it works do it, ----right!

[dcox]

Thanks guys for your wisdom. I'm going to pull out this 11# new spool and will pick up another from a miller supplier in town. I think the comment about the silicon may be a factor as that is what I think I am seeing. Both my original spool (that worked fine) and this spool are marked "made in italy", nothing wrong with italy (ferrari and lamborgini just to say a few). But I will see what the new spool brings. Thanks Again.

[Sberry]

Burn it, when you are finished try another brand. I think Hawk hit it with the silicon content and any surface contamination. Its no big deal, dont lose any sleep over it. You can see a little at the bottom of the bead here.