New to me Millermatic 130 xp

[RMiller]

So I came across a good condition mm130xp, it runs on every setting and really seems like it has good power for an old 110 welder.
What it the best wire to run in this machine? Size and brand in flux and solid core
I am unimpressed with the flux core results with the wire I was given with the machine. The wire is old but I was given e71t-gs weld coat brand .030 and same wire in .035 from pro star.
I already took the covers off and gave her a good blow job and once over, anything else I should do to to make this unit last and preform?
Already found my manual by the way. The manual hinted at it being a 2001.
I am interested in welding on the outer aspects of this machine, more then sheet metal, up to 1/4 but I have a miller dialarc 250 for the big stuff. I just don’t want to mess around with trying different recipes and buy junk wire, hard or flux core, what makes this machine happiest, thanks!

[ryanjones2150]

I wouldn’t go bigger than .030 on either. You will find it will run .025 solid pretty well.

[RMiller]

Thanks ryanjones2150, I read the .023, is that what you meant or .025? I read it’s not so good for thinker metal that .030 is better for above 90 amps

So I remembered I had a new spook of harbor freight solid .030 wire and rigged up my gas bottle and she welds like a hot ****, for a baby welder that is haha

So is the general consensus here, Hobart consumables are best?
What .030 flux core wire runs the best? Hobart? Lol
Thanks

[Aeronca41]

I like Hobart or Lincoln, and generally use Hobart. Tried a roll of Airgas brand (Radnor) and ended up throwing it away. It would weld fine for a while, then all sorts of problems. I thought something was wrong with the welder. Then I finally found that if I'd pull a pile of wire out and toss it, it would weld fine again--until the next time. Could have just gotten a bad roll, but it was so aggravating I haven't bought any more of it.

[ryanjones2150]

I’ve had a very similar experience with that wire, Wayne, but it was horrible freight China wire as opposed to air gas China wire. I didn’t buy it and it wasn’t my machine, I was working in another shop and when I told the head guy his response to me was he’s run tons of the stuff with no problem. The point is...that wire is inconsistent.

If you’re not going to use the flux core wire much, don’t buy much, it has a shelf life.

.030 is a good all around wire size. In my opinion, I wouldn’t push anything bigger in that machine. It probably says it can do it, but I have not seen that to be true in similar sized machines.

As far as what wire is better on what’s amps...I’m not sure how you gauge that because you’re not adjusting amps on that machine, it’s voltage. Adjustment in amps is a function of WFS or wire diameter. Unless that machine has a super sweet adjustment knob I’m unfamiliar with. I very much like that thinner wire on sheet metal and similar gauge base metal, like on cars for example.

[RMiller]

Just trying to figure out if the machine has a favorite wire brand that’s all. I was surprisingly happy with the HF wore results but I’m not gonna run that stuff, kind of embarrassing lol and I’d run flux if it welded like it should, I’m just tired of crap welds from crap wire, but if I didn’t have to buy gas I wouldn’t

[Aeronca41]

In my experience, you are always going to get a lot more splatter with flux core; and you have to trade off the cost of the gas vs the increased cost of the flux core wire. For every day use, I only use flux core if I have to--outdoors windy, can't get the joint really clean, etc. Much prefer solid wire with gas.

[ryanjones2150]

Did you change polarity when you ran the flux core?

[Aeronca41]

Did you change polarity when you ran the flux core?

Yes. I just always feel I don't get a clean a job with flux core and obviously don't like it on thin stuff. Maybe it's just me.

[RMiller]

What’s a polarity?
Just Kidding, yes I did, it had a handy sticker under the cover, I really like how well the paint and decals have held up on the machine
some of the flux core I’ve use welds horrendously, porosity and just looks like chicken crap, on every setting, as y’all were saying the quality can be really bad on some wire
so I assume a spool of Hobart flux core is as good as any other wire?

[ryanjones2150]

Any name brand should be ok. At least, one would hope, the consistency will be there.

[RMiller]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the help, hopefully I’ll get a long life out of this machine!