Cheap Import MIG Wire - Any Good?

[Sberry]

It may have been Radnor that didn't run very well. Dan tests it all the time and notices a difference. The Hobart always seemed to work well.

[clint738]

Not everything made overseas is junk, but I do try hard and do my part to support domestic products.

My Ammo is made by me. Can't get any more domestic than that.

I like the Hobart wire and Excaliber 7018 and Fleetweld 6010 rods, but Hobarts work ok on those too.
I also make my own ammo as I like things precise.

Sadly more and more is going overseas... there is not much pride in american made anymore. Thankfully my work has the old fashion mind set and buys up companies to help make their stuff here. So we have plastic injection molding across the street and a tool and die shop on my side of the street and then production multi axis lathes and mills and tig/mig and a robot mig in another building and a circuit board shop a mile away and a plastic manufacturer in the other direction.

[aametalmaster]

I was reluctant to use the house brand stuff from the LWS but it ran super good, next time I got wire they changed to WA, it ran terrible. I was hoping they stayed consistent but ,,,, no.

Most LWS just buy wire by the skid when they need it. Brand doesn't matter just the free shipping and price they get. There are lots of wire salesmen driving around trying to get business. I saw 100's of flyers...Bob

[Sberry]

I was reluctant to use the house brand stuff from the LWS but it ran super good, next time I got wire they changed to WA, it ran terrible. I was hoping they stayed consistent but ,,,, no.

[Ironken]

In the virtual tour of their store on the website, in one of the pictures there was this white coffee cup with a red heart on it randomly sitting on one of the shelves, probably left by someone doing inventory or something. I called them asked how much they wanted for the cup. Told, Steve I think, where it was on the pictures in the tour. Placed my order and they tossed the old, used coffee cup in with a hand written note hoping I enjoy my new old stock coffee cup. Now I owe them a cup of coffee, so I have to make the Harry epstein pilgrimage one of these days.....

If you make the pilgrimage, I'll take you out for some good KC BBQ. You too Bob, I owe you one. That is funny that they sent you the old coffee cup.

[ryanjones2150]

In the virtual tour of their store on the website, in one of the pictures there was this white coffee cup with a red heart on it randomly sitting on one of the shelves, probably left by someone doing inventory or something. I called them asked how much they wanted for the cup. Told, Steve I think, where it was on the pictures in the tour. Placed my order and they tossed the old, used coffee cup in with a hand written note hoping I enjoy my new old stock coffee cup. Now I owe them a cup of coffee, so I have to make the Harry epstein pilgrimage one of these days.....

[Ironken]

I am a loyal patron of the Harry Epstein tool company. Excellent folks and when you call them to place an order, they hand write their sales tickets. I recon that system never goes down.

They are super cool to talk to as well, my son and I go down there and just look around (of course leave with something that I never knew I needed). The place has some corners that probably havn't been touched since the 1930s. It has that old hardware store musty goodness. A local perfume maker made up some "essence of Epstein" cologne that they gave away in little vials....kinda cool.

[aametalmaster]

I use only Hobart now and am really liking their Fabcor 86R....I REALLY like that stuff and made in USA. Sadly, boys.....their HB-28 that I use is definately made in Cheeena. Runs as well as Esab Spoolarc 86 buuuuut......China. ****, I think the Esab is made in Asia now too.

Lots of name brand wire is overseas. Saw that when I worked in the LWS. Had skids of it side by side. The beloved Lincoln L-56 isn't all made in the US. I have seen Mexico L-56...Bob

[ryanjones2150]

I am a loyal patron of the Harry Epstein tool company. Excellent folks and when you call them to place an order, they hand write their sales tickets. I recon that system never goes down.

[Ironken]

I use only Hobart now and am really liking their Fabcor 86R....I REALLY like that stuff and made in USA. Sadly, boys.....their HB-28 that I use is definately made in Cheeena. Runs as well as Esab Spoolarc 86 buuuuut......China. ****, I think the Esab is made in Asia now too.

[Ironken]

I heard the same grudge against Irwin. If I can find new old stock vice grips, I buy them up.

Me too....used to be made up the road in Nebraska. Here are some fine German locking pliers from a tool wonderland here in Kansas City. I go visit every so often. One of the owners told me 75-80 percent of their inventory is made in USA and their website plainly states where everything is made......check 'em out.

https://www.harryepstein.com/index.php/tool-brand/bollmangrip.html

[garybdavis]

Well I loaded up the cheap spool and have a few hours on it. Seems to weld just fine, nice bead. I do notice it doesn't feed as smoothly as it should. Nothing too bad, just some chattering from time to time as the wire feeds out. So, I think for the extra $20, I'll buy name brand from the LWS, or do the Google thing to watch for it on Amazon.

[tarry99]

I think for the most part most of the wire is made off shore.....and for the most part the Big welding house suppliers buy it already packaged in there colors......and for the most part the Big welding houses that have a Brand name to protect also engage in QC both overseas and when it's landed here...........Stay with the Brands that have a name to protect........you'll be fine.

[aametalmaster]

I'm getting into other import brands now that the playing field is leveled, such as Stronghand as of late.
I also prefer weapons and ammo to be made here also

I have bought some stronghand tools to use around the basement shop. I also bought a new 10 year old Remington 798 which is an imported Mauser 98 action finished by Remington and it has their name on it. And I make my own ammo also. Roll my own...Bob

[OscarJr]

Ya, I think that may require a bit more of an investment than a reloading press. But if you do, I'll buy filler from you.

Let's melt some aluminum cans!