Any reccomendations on welding wire?

[Jim Riley]

What does everybody use for GMAW wire for auto body sheet metal work?

I am aware of ESAB easy grind and Harris twenty gage. What else does everyone use?

Thanks!

Jim

[JohnR]

I have just been playing with welding sheet metal, and doing structual re-enforcement on my racecar, but I use regular .025 wire. I hate to say it, but on some lap joints when the thickness of the bottom plate is thinner than the top plate, I use the pulse method. BZZZZZZ, move forward a few MM, BZZZZZ, etc. I know this doesn't give good penetration on thicker pieces, but when both sheets together are less than 2mm thick, it's more than adequate.

[ZTFab]

Didn't you already ask this question Jim?

Pulse welding is more than adequate on sheet metal and is practically a must when welding sheet metal with MIG.

Jim, get some Silicon Bronze. It has a 50k tensile strength but has a low melting point and is easy to grind. It wets out well and flows like solder due to the silicon content. Give it a try, I think you'll like it.

- Paul

[David R]

As long as it says ER70S-6 I'll buy it for as cheap as I can. (usually a buck a pound)

David

[ZTFab]

ER70S-6 is a great filler for MIG welding, except on thin sheet metal and body work that's needs to be ground down or blended.

The high silicon content is great but is only a deoxidizer and the amount of grinding involved to blend it down takes a long time and causes excessive heat which can warp thin sheet metal.

I'm sure some other fillers are sufficient but IMO Silicon Bronze is the way to go.

- Paul