Welding Wire Size For Sheet Metal

If you are welding mostly stock that is 1 8 or thicker you might want to use 030 or 035 wire.

Welding wire size for sheet metal.

Er70s 6 is also better for creating a smooth transition from the weld to the base metal also known as wash in or tie in. 0 023 diameter wire 30 amps to 130 amps 0 030 diameter wire 40 amps to 145 amps. To obtain the best results while mig welding sheet metal proper fitment and cleanliness of the metal are essential. It s recommended to use a 023 or 024 inch wire for most light gauge sheet metal work.

A quality mig wire is critical in robotic welding applications. When the material is 18 gauge and thicker you may be able to use a 030 inch wire. For sheet metal i use ine welding wire and it is just as good as their flux cored wire if you want you can grab one here. To weld mild steel choose an american welding society classification wire such as er70s 6 which has a weld puddle that wets out nicely.

Keep the stick out short stickout of your mig wire is important when welding any type of metal but especially sheet metal. Er70s 6 wire can provide better wetting at the weld toe when compared to an er70s 3 wire. Each mig machine will have suggested settings for wire feed and welding current usually these can be changed by turning a dial. As for mild steel wires such as er70s 6 are recommended for use as they have a weld buddle that wets out nicely.

Try going for a wire of 023 inches when welding sheet metal. You need to stay within these parameters. Short bursts or tacks will help you gain more control and adjust easily. It is recommended that a welder should use 023 or 024 inch wire for light gauge sheet metal work.

Better wash in may be a requirement in applications subject to fatigue. It goes without saying that smaller wire is use for thinner sheet metal while larger diameter wire is used for heavier plate. However if you are dealing with materials that are 18 gauge or thicker one should be able to use 030 inch welding wire. Er 70 s 6 welding wire is probably the most commonly used and should be good for most street rod applications.

Ideally there should be a 1 32 gap between the patch and the body panel. For sheetmetal 024 wire is a good place to start. Holding the tip too far from the surface will cause the wire to have to come out too far to touch the metal. This means the extra wire causes the voltage to drop by the time it actually gets to the surface and strikes an arc.

While wire feed welding sheet metal go for short bursts of welding instead of a going on a long bead.