Thanks for the kind words chaps
The point I was trying to put across in the earlier thread was this :
When using a small hobby mig, the use of .6mm wire may be beneficial in producing a neater weld bead at lower amperage on thin gauge steel such as the chassis tubes.
My own commercial set will produce a neat full penetration weld on quite a low setting with the use of .6mm wire
Yes for shure. The book does indeed recommend the use of .8mm wire.
Perhaps this recommendation was made with direct reference to having the use of a larger, commercial mig welding plant.
Perhaps the arguement could have been taken one stage further. !!??
Why not use 1.0mm or even 1.2 wire ?
After all, the last place I worked made heavy use of sheet metal and was used in the manufacture of industrial compressors.
Some of the compressor canopy's were quite intricate with complex bends & welded joints ( Mainly butt welds )
The most common gauge metals were 1.2mm & 1.6mm thick although some of the components used .8mm & 1.0mm gauge !!
My point is ??
All of the welding booths were kitted out with hulking great Three phase BOC Murex Transmig's.
The factory didn't even stock .8mm wire !!?? Only 1.0mm & above , more often than not the welding plant in the booth would have a roll of 1.2mm wire loaded.
Being a lazy git, this would be what was used. Happy to do so & still produce quality work.
Right thats that off my chest
Back to the original topic of this thread
With the advent of the home hobby MIG welder, the good old stick welder is more or less consigned to the ark.
MIG welding has a fair few advantages over the MMA process.
More versatile on the multi positional welds needed, good gap filling properties, no slag removal, less heat distortion, less chance of weld undercut, Quicker, the list could go on and on really.
In my personal view, MIG welding by far the easiest form of welding to learn, I have yet to find a student that I could not teach to a competent standard in a relatively short period of time.
Having said all of that.
If I were on an incredibly tight budget, had the use of a decent stick welder & didn't want to blow most of my money on an item that is most likely going to be used for the one job only !!??
Yes I would use a stick welder in the blink of an eye ( Probably go for 2mm wall tube though )
