My GMAW wire opinions.

[Shade Tree Welder]

Well my opinion is it sucks, well maybe not "sucks", but I was not impressed with it, as compared to my current supply of Thermal Arc wire. Still waiting to run some of the new Quantum Arc from Hobart.

My ratings, this if running on my MM 350P in short circuit mode on 1008 CR draw quality steel. Also I am running it with 90/10.

Lincoln L-56 ...... 100% (my basis for testing all wire, but it is too expensive)
Indura ............... 99+% (can't get it since Airgas bought BOC's retail ops.)
Thermal Arc ........ 90+% (acceptable, not as smooth an arc as L-56 or Indura)

-----------------------------------Unacceptable wire.
HB-28 ................ 80% (too much spatter, and unstable arc.)
National standard . 80% (same as HB-28)
Radnor ............... 75% (don't remember, tested it over a year ago.)
BR-6 .................. 70% (garbage wire)

[X-ray]

Interesting. Dont go through the wire, but these are my quonset hut findings.

1st: L-50
2nd: L-56

Others that have and not liked so much;Harris welco in the s-6 flavor (.035 & .030) & Airco (.045) another 6 wire.


Have some AvestaPolarit stainless wire, but no materials to use it on

The L wires costs are not too big a deal for me because I dont even use a spool a month

[DDA52]

As regards Nat'l Std wire, I have heard there are two types...those that like it and those that hate it. No one seems to ride the fence on it.

[Scott V]

Same with BR-6

I happen to really like it. The HB-28 can be made in about 6 countrys
so test each one before giving up. My Esab runs HB28 .030 like butter. No
spatter at all. Yes even better then the MM-210 does. .035 sucks in that it's
real mushy in the mpi.

One of Mckays wire is HB-28 too.

[JT Metalworks]

I have about 40# of NS-6 left and probably won't buy it again, but I'd say I ride the fence. It's not great, it's not terrible (I don't have any spatter issues with it), and it was super cheap.

I've only run this stuff in .035 and it does ok in short circuit, globular, and spray. Not bad enough to return for full credit (that's the deal I had with my LWS for trying it).

[Scott V]

I went down-stairs and ran a bead of BR-6 .
Not a good pic but no spatter and it runs super
for me. Even over some unknown mill scale type
It looks almost Galv but it's not?
I Love the stuff.

[Shade Tree Welder]

Updated opinions...

My ratings, this is running on my MM 350P in short circuit mode on 1008 CR draw quality steel. Also I am running it with 90/10. And running 330 ipm with 0.045" wire, ~19 V and 35-36 on inductance, I tweak in the volts and inductance on each wire but leave the wfs constant.

Thermal Arc .................... 100% Acceptable, not as smooth an arc as L-56 or Indura, well priced.
Lincoln L-56 ................... 100% My basis for testing all wire, but it is too expensive for production.
Hobart's Quantum Arc 6 ... 99% Excellent wire. I like the wetting better than L-56. Resonably priced.
Indura ........................... 99+% Can't get it since Airgas bought BOC's retail ops.

-----------------------------------Unacceptable wires.
HB-28 ............................ 80% Too much spatter, and unstable arc.
National standard ............. 75% Same as HB-28, very dirty wire had to disassemble gun clean everything from the wire.
Radnor ........................... 70% Got a partial spool, spatter is excessive, poor starts almost runs like a 70S-3 wire.
BR-6 .............................. 70% Overall poor performance.

I will also note that if you are running GMAW pulsed spray or spray almost any wire will do. You see more of a difference with short-arc IMHO.

[Shade Tree Welder]

Originally Posted by Scott V

I went down-stairs and ran a bead of BR-6 .
Not a good pic but no spatter and it runs super
for me. Even over some unknown mill scale type
It looks almost Galv but it's not?
I Love the stuff.

Scott is that GMAW-P or Short arc hard to tell from the picture?