Benefits of .023 over .030 mild steel wire

[Metjunkie]

Hi all,
I have a Millermatic 185 that I bought new in 1999 and for all the many projects I've used it on, I've only ran .030 wire. I have some projects coming up that will be out of 16 ga. mild steel tube. I have done a fair amount of this tubing with .030 over the years and I still occasionally burn through it, though I have learned to adjust my travel speed and gun manipulation to compensate. My question is, is there any benefit to running .023 wire for these projects over the .030 I normally run? At some point I'd also like to find an old MG sports car that is looking for a major restoration. Been a member here for some time and I read this forum every day. I've picked up a wealth of great info over the years, plus some of you fella's can be pretty entertaining. Thanks to all for your knowledge and experience and keep it coming.

[aametalmaster]

I too have a MM185 and run .030 for 90% of my work. But for auto body thickness .024 is the way to go. I weld many projects from 16 ga tube with no problems...Bob

[aametalmaster]

Here's one...Bob https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM-stinaKWE

[aametalmaster]

What gas you running?...Bob

[Metjunkie]

Thats a cool vid, Bob.
I just bought a TINY z scale train set. Hopefully I can put some layout together before I'm dead. And I'm running 75/25.

[Oldgrandad]

I find with .023 you can hang out a lot longer before burning thru so there is a benefit to using the smaller wire on thin gauge material. You don't have to think nearly as much about the weld it just happens and it looks good. The 75/25 would be my gas of choice for mild steel.

[Metjunkie]

Thanks OGD(Oldgrandad). That's what I was wondering. Sometimes doing the thin stuff, I try to get through it lickety split, so I won't burn through. I'm too used to doing the thicker stuff, going slow and letting it burn in.