[johnrv4]

Why people skimp on wire for their project amazes me when a normal guys spool will last a long time in a home shop...so buy good shit IMO.

I THOUGHT it was good shit. For what Airgas charged for it, it should have been gold plated.:shaking: I don't see the local Airgas staying in business very long. They are way overpriced compared to the competition. That was the last item I bought from them.

 

[EasyXJ]

I've had good success with Harris wire. I used to buy the 11# spool, but now run the 33#. I've had 2 spools of lincoln wire that were wrapped shitty, won't buy that crap again.

 

[turbomustang]

try the esab shit it works good.

 

[monkeyevil]

We used to use Esab wire, but our local weld supply was purchased by Praxair and now sells their house ProStar brand. They don't weld the same, but they are similar.

Sometimes you just get a poorly wound or contaminated spool with any brand. Seems to be very rare though.

 

[FORDTECHGURU]

I'm using radnor now but i think it's time to try somthing different for comparison... I did notice that it will surface rust after sitting in a dry shop, just enough that you have to wipe it with a white towel to notice it. Fed it through my liner and fuc$%3ed it up... $35 later:shaking:

 

[reddwarf]

A friend here had trouble with Radnor stainless wire

 

[DHONDAGOD]

Just had my welding supplier deliver a spool of Radnor wire... I turned it away and asked for something else.


Thanks to the original poster (and those who have contributed) for the heads up on this. :beer:


Chris:cool2:

 

[wheelin66bronco]

Radnor wire brings the suck, I ran through a whole spool trying to figure out what the issue was.
I like Hobart wire, at least that's what I think it is. I comes in the metal cage spool, not the plastic. My local CarQuest carries it and it's cheaper than the welding store.

 

[45acp]

Great, i just bought an 11pounder of this crap this weekend. Wish i would have seen this thread.

So far its welding like normal.

Its sad when Tractor Supply has the good stuff and the welding supply shop carries the junk. So much for trying to support the little guy.

 

[yozsi]

I love welding with blue demon wire, resonable cost and very good quality wire.

 

[knaffie]

I usually run Lincoln L56. I used a spool of Radnor because L56 was out of stock and it didn't weld any different.

My favorite wire is National standard's copper-free NS-115. Great stuff.

 

[81yotaman]

i have used the radnor brand before and it doesn't weld the same as the .062 esab fluxcore wire i use at my work i love the esab wire i use it on a miller welder with bimix gas and it lays in like butter in any position.

 

[maxyedor]

I usually run Lincoln L56. I used a spool of Radnor because L56 was out of stock and it didn't weld any different.

Interesting, mite be the same wire because the Lincoln wire, IMO, sucks! It's wound all randomly, and doesn't stick well in funky out of position situations.

Took my 2 spools of Radnor to Airgas today when I picked up some tanks and asked if they'd heard any problems, they said that they had heard of a few issues and traded me for some Pinnacle Alloy wire, and gave me $4 back, gotta like that. Been using Pinnacle for tig lately because I can't get Washington around here and have been very happy with it, loaded a new spool into the mig machine today and it's not quite the same as the Washington Alloy, but it's wound nice and smooth, feeds well, and doesn't splatter like the Lincoln shit does, gotta play with my settings a little, my "go to" settings are just a hair off now.

 

[hkunz93308]

The guy who taught me MIG used to put foam earplugs on the wire between the spool and the drive, I S#!t you not. He said it precleaned the wire before it fed into the rollers for better feed. They did not seem to have issues with wire brand differences, and we went through a spool every couple days. This was in an ESAB monster welder setup. One machine was a combo TIG/MIG rig, one was MIG only.

 

[Hollywood1]

Well im glad this poster has brought soem light to the issue. I often use L56 when i run out of wire and the welding supply is closed. I'll have to run to Home Depot to get a 2lb. spool of L56. The L56 seems to be fine for me but i think the Pinnacle is wound better and smoother.

I'll have to try the ear plug trick, thats actually a good idea.

I guess i could use a new trigger also. I have been using the same stock lincoln trigger on my 175 for the last 7 years.

 

[knaffie]

You don't need to use an earplug, they do make a product spedifically for that. However, I have mixed reviews about using them. If you're using large open spools in a very dirty environment, it will help get the crap off the wire and keep it out of the liner. if your wire is clean, all it will really do is take the factory-applied lubricant off the wire and cause feeding problems.

 

[Circus Master]

There are different grades of wire. Arcplus 6 Radnor ER70S-6 Mig Wire .035 44# Spool. I use about a spool a week and have been for about 3 years now with no issues.

Clayton

 

[45acp]

Ive been using the hell out of this stuff this weekend and so far no problems. I cant tell a difference between it and the old spool of Hoboart it replaced.

Was the issue binding? Bad wrapped perhaps?

 

[verceingetorix]

I am not a fan of the Radnor wire the rolls have been a 50/50 split on wether they weld well or not. Lincoln wire is better but Esab wire is still my favorite.

 

[f250rollinon37s]

i have used a ton of radnor spools though a few diffrent welders, and have only had a few issues. i just replaced a spool and the new shit was sticking ( in the liner ) and wouldnt feed through the tip, causing a burn back. switched it to a diffrent new spool ( i thought i was out - but i found a nother box in my shop :laughing: )


and it was fine, ill be swapping this one out