Trouble with plug welds

What ever works best for you.
30 is not very good for sheet metal stitches and the like and most people generally have 23 in and don't want to swap out,so unless you're doing a lot of larger ga or something requiring 30 use what you got in.
No Rules,just Right and done.
The Best 'Recipe' is Experience.
Actually went and looked in my mig and had 0.023. Forgot I had a new roll of 0.030 Twenty Guage green wire I've never used from years ago that was supposed to be 'all that' for bodywork.
 
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Some machines do better with .023-.025 some do better with .030. Many guys forget to adjust their settings when using ,030 versus ,023. Personally I like .030 especially for plugs. Can butt weld fine with it as well.
 
My local welding shop recommended this "easy grind" wire. They call it "Hot Rod Wire."
They said "It is softer, doesn't even have AWS rating but perfect for auto body sheet metal. Just don't use it on a skyscraper or bridge . . ."
I like it a lot. Works great on my Lincoln 210MP and does grind easier.

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It's all a moot point IMO because the shielding gas is Argon/CO2. All welds gets carburized because of that. Might grind easier but it still is awful to try and hammer and dolly on. Old stuff 70-S2 is fine. Stuff from the last 30 years or so I-CAR recommends 70-S6. Actually on really late model stuff a different wire is recommended altogether.
 
Thanks much for the link to the welding Masks from Miller! Too expensive but just what I have been looking for. I did not see it mentioned in this thread but a big problem for me is light coming in from the back of the helmet. Then I fight reflections on the welding lens. I shut off all the overhead shop lights when welding and use spot lighting right on my welds but still have trouble seeing details.

Also have used cloth/rags to cover the back of my head and I have a pipeliner helmet for use out in the sun but it's very bulky too. So I still fight the large helmet limiting my access to where I need to weld.
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i use 030 for everything. for years i had a flood light on a stand to light up the work. i like seeing it before i start. now i have a cheap short mini led light zip tied to my mig gun.
 
MikeK said:
Lighting has always been my nemesis welding. That and Reader glasses. :( I'm nearsighted and wear contacts which screws my up close vision. So I use glasses for 1 or the other and prefer the readers option.
Try some 0.030 wire also. More filler for the hole with the additional heat.
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get a magna-lense for your helmet. no need for glasses anymore .
 
chevman said:
I think its still available in 11 lb spools, it always been difficult to find the small spools.
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I called the same supplier that I got my 2lb spool of easy grind from, Allstate welding, and they said just the 2lb has been discontinued, 11 lb is still available. They don't keep it in stock, has to be ordered.
 
get a magna-lense for your helmet. no need for glasses anymore .
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Is the magnification number,say 1.5, the same as reader numbers,1.50, ?
A friend recently gave me a pair of safety glasses with small magnifiers on the lense bottoms.
Love them things !! Not exactly bifocals but enough to be very helpful.
Some machines do better with .023-.025 some do better with .030.
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My problem is my Hobart 135 just has the 4 heat settings. So it's always a challenge.
Back when I got it,the only infinant range was a Miller and Way out of my price range then.
Even got a small tank of Argon and tried some Aluminum. I saw why you need a spool gun....
Fast,very fast. One 'sticker and what a mess. Definitely wasted more wire than I laid. LOL..
 
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