California
Well-known member
All of my welding is outdoors in front of the barn stall that is my shop. Too much fire hazard indoors. So, 100% stick or flux core wire.
Most everybody has a favorite flux core wire. Here's mine:
INE's INETUB BA71TGS. Size .035 for the Harbor Freight MIG-180 I've had for a few years, and now .030 in the Amico 130A FC welder I bought 11/2021. Compared to others I've tried this has less smoke, it feeds evenly, and the welds look great. Recommended.
INE, made in Italy by a world class manufacturer, is slightly more expensive than most brands. So I've tried Amazon's 'Used - Like New' and 'Used - Acceptable'. The Like New turned out to be flawless product in a shopworn box. That's harmless. I doubt it was a customer return, but just a box tumbled around in Amazon's warehouse bin. The shrinkwrap on the spool was sealed. That's all that matters.
I've seen speculation that Harbor Freight's Vulcan FC is made by INE. I haven't compared them. Anybody know?
And after trying Blue Demon, Forney, Lincoln, Hobart, the HF FC wire that came with the MIG-180 when I bought it used (not HF's present Vulcan wire), and two different generic FC spools that also came with that used welder, I decided to try whatever was cheapest on Amazon. To be used simply to practice on the new Amico 130A FC welder.
I discovered that PGN Flux Core MIG Wire - E71T-11 is inexpensive, especially when on sale, and good. I think suitable for anything I would weld. Note that their T-11 version should conform to the same standard as Lincoln's Innershield NR-211-MP, at half the price. PGN's T-GS version might be more of a gamble since -GS means whatever standard the manufacturer chooses to use. The PGN FC wire is level-wound on the spool and feeds flawlessly with no tendency to birds-nest like I experienced with Blue Demon and Lincoln wire. So - PGN's E71T-11 is something I'll recommend.
But re Amazon's 'Used - Like New' and 'Used - Acceptable' levels of discount - I bought a second roll of PGN wire claimed 'Used - Acceptable'. That was clearly as customer return. Not a full spool and the plastic spool had chunks broken off, missing, so that shipping damage didn't occur in transit to me. The loose end of the wire wasn't secured so I discarded a few yards of snarled wire to reach level-wound wire that then fed smoothly. I don't recommend Amazon's 'Used - Acceptable' discount version of anything!
What are others' experiences comparing FC wire?
Most everybody has a favorite flux core wire. Here's mine:
INE's INETUB BA71TGS. Size .035 for the Harbor Freight MIG-180 I've had for a few years, and now .030 in the Amico 130A FC welder I bought 11/2021. Compared to others I've tried this has less smoke, it feeds evenly, and the welds look great. Recommended.
INE, made in Italy by a world class manufacturer, is slightly more expensive than most brands. So I've tried Amazon's 'Used - Like New' and 'Used - Acceptable'. The Like New turned out to be flawless product in a shopworn box. That's harmless. I doubt it was a customer return, but just a box tumbled around in Amazon's warehouse bin. The shrinkwrap on the spool was sealed. That's all that matters.
I've seen speculation that Harbor Freight's Vulcan FC is made by INE. I haven't compared them. Anybody know?
And after trying Blue Demon, Forney, Lincoln, Hobart, the HF FC wire that came with the MIG-180 when I bought it used (not HF's present Vulcan wire), and two different generic FC spools that also came with that used welder, I decided to try whatever was cheapest on Amazon. To be used simply to practice on the new Amico 130A FC welder.
I discovered that PGN Flux Core MIG Wire - E71T-11 is inexpensive, especially when on sale, and good. I think suitable for anything I would weld. Note that their T-11 version should conform to the same standard as Lincoln's Innershield NR-211-MP, at half the price. PGN's T-GS version might be more of a gamble since -GS means whatever standard the manufacturer chooses to use. The PGN FC wire is level-wound on the spool and feeds flawlessly with no tendency to birds-nest like I experienced with Blue Demon and Lincoln wire. So - PGN's E71T-11 is something I'll recommend.
But re Amazon's 'Used - Like New' and 'Used - Acceptable' levels of discount - I bought a second roll of PGN wire claimed 'Used - Acceptable'. That was clearly as customer return. Not a full spool and the plastic spool had chunks broken off, missing, so that shipping damage didn't occur in transit to me. The loose end of the wire wasn't secured so I discarded a few yards of snarled wire to reach level-wound wire that then fed smoothly. I don't recommend Amazon's 'Used - Acceptable' discount version of anything!
What are others' experiences comparing FC wire?