.035 vs .030 for MM210

[cadder]

I recently bought a MM210, tank of c25 and a 33lb roll of .035 wire. I went with the .035 based on a chart on the hobart site. It list 1/8" as the thickest recommended for .030. Since most of my stuff will be 1/8"-1/4", I thought .035 would be the right wire. But recently Ive read some comments from some very knowegdeable people that say the 210 really does better with .030 on thick and thin materials. Before I shelf a brand new spool of wire, I was hoping I could get some more peoples ideas on the subject. One thing thats important is out of position stuff, ie link suspension brackets, x-members, etc on a 4x4.

Thanks

chart

[Bulldog]

HI Cadder,
I have used .035 on my 210 with good results. However I do prefer to use .030 on the 210. I weld up to 1/2" single pass with .030 with great results.
I use .035 in my 251. Works good.
Bulldog

[hankj]

Cadder,

I run .035, but I have .030 here for those tricky things that it works better for, like your out of position work. It's all doable with either one, except for thin stuff at low-end; that's .030 or .023 country. As for the thicker stock and .030, if you kick up the wire speed to compensate for the difference in diameter, it's all the same.

Enjoy your machine. I know I love mine!

Hank

[cadder]

You guys are echoing whats come up in searches on here and the hobart board. What keeps nagging at me is that the references ive looked at say 1/8" and up is .035 territory. The MM210 Manual shows 145 amps max for .030. Im not trying to argue with experience here, Im just trying understand why the reference materials say one thing and experienced welders say another. I would just go get a 2lb spool and give 'er a go, but Ive been told the little spools feed differently so it not a good comparison. Any truth to that?


Thanks!

[hankj]

Remember that the manual page you are referring to is for short-arc. There's still two more methods of transfer - globular and spray. .030 won't spray 'till around 150 amps, and not on C-25. Don't worry too much about it. As you play with the machine, you'll see what the limits are. As with anything that you haven't used before, it'll take some foolin' around until you get comfy.

Hank

[Paul Seaman]

I run .030 for nearly everything its the best balance of light and thick since I've jumped all over the scale with my mm210 it works the best for me.Hanks right as you use the machine you'll find what you like in it and you'll find that sweet spot where ith run the best. I've run a few hundred pounds of wire through mine and I still buy .030, for what its worth.

Peace,

[Sundown]

I also use .030 in my MM210 as I like the quality of the arc better, I have a 10# roll of .035 just in case but I don't see it being used any time soon. You won't have a problem feeding a 2# spool just put a empty spool behind it to take up the slack. The manual shows you how, just sub the empty spool for the extra spring.

[Mike W]

I have always run .035 and CO2. I almost feel like buying a roll of .030.....well, maybe not. A typical procedure in a text will show .045 for welding 1/4 material. Of course the text is geared towards optimum production.

[aametalmaster]

I am on my 7th 33# roll of .030 wire. I wouldn't use anything else. I too read the cover and manual and i do have .035 but i have not used it in the 5 years i have had this machine. I got spoiled with the .030...Bob

[HAWK]

Mike W,

Sort of off the subject, but an interesting aside:

Optimum production results are sometimes out of the question. I saw a plant rundown sheet with illustrations showing how 1/4" steel horizontal fillets were welded at 330 amps with a .045" dual shield wire to maximize penetration with minimal weld time. A quick smack and the flux rolled off like a nicely tuned 7018 testbook weld.

The production samples were beautiful to look at and there was no question of a sound weld. However, the closest I come to such an example is .035 bare wire sprayed at 31 volts. Still overkill, but short of maximizing.

[Mike W]

That would be interesting to see that in person HAWK.