Semiautomatic welding wire: types, comparison, review of the best models
Semi-automatic welding under the protection of gases MIG / MAG is simple in execution and allows you to quickly perform continuous seams in all spatial positions, and therefore is popular. To figure out which welding wire is best for a semiautomatic device, we compiled a rating by type of filler material, taking into account the characteristics and positive feedback. This will help you select the wire for your specific application and provide the best possible seam.
The best copper-plated welding wire
This type of welding wire is used for welding carbon and structural steels. Inside, it consists of ordinary metal, and the outer coating is enriched with copper, which reduces the amount of spray and delays the formation of cracks in the hot state. It is also suitable for cast iron welding.
The wire has a high tensile strength and is perfect for use in a garage, at the cottage and in production where black iron welding is required.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SV-08G2S-O (0.8 mm; coil 5 kg) Cedar | OK Autrod 12.51 (0.8 mm; 5 kg) ESAB | |||||||
| Weight, kg | 5 | 5 | ||||||
| Diameter mm | 0,8 | 0,8 | ||||||
| Euro Coil | D200 | D200 | ||||||
| Brand homeland | Russia | Sweden | ||||||
SV-08G2S-O (0.8 mm; coil 5 kg) Cedar
Domestic product for welding in inert gases. Convenient babina easily installs in the drum. Coils of filler material weighing 5 kg are enough for a long time.
+ Pros SV-08G2S-O (0.8 mm; coil 5 kg) Cedar
- Suitable for all carbon and low alloy steels.
The seam is really even and clean due to the absence of splashes. - It turns out a deep fusion.
- Cons SV-08G2S-O (0.8 mm; coil 5 kg) Cedar
- Not suitable for all semiautomatic devices for fastening to a drum (Euro coil is used).
- Not suitable for work in the environment of active gases (carbon dioxide) - you need to be careful when choosing for welding car bodies and thin metals for ventilation.
Conclusion. This is the best welding wire for semi-automatic machines in those cases where the maximum purity of the metal after the seam is important. It has a minimal amount of spray, so that the adjacent thread or front surface will remain unspoiled.
OK Autrod 12.51 (0.8 mm; 5 kg) ESAB
Swedish product from a famous brand, manufactured at production facilities in the Czech Republic. Available in 5 kg coils and complies with GOST SV-08G2S-O.
+ Pros OK Autrod 12.51 (0.8 mm; 5 kg) ESAB
- The seam maintains good toughness even when the temperature drops to -20 degrees - in this case, the figure will be 90 J / cm2.
- Smooth good seam without sag.
- Soft burning of a welding arch.
- Cons OK Autrod 12.51 (0.8 mm; 5 kg) ESAB
- Not very even laying, despite the brand manufacturer - slippage in the channel is possible.
- The design of the coil may differ from the photos in online stores.
- The wire is stiff and inconvenient to thread into the feed mechanism.
Conclusion. Good wire, suitable for filling cracks in the frames of various equipment and mechanisms. It has a tensile strength of 560 MPa, therefore it is resistant to tensile stress. The seams made semi-automatic with this wire have an increased strength.
The best flux-cored welding wire
The wire has a tubular shape, inside of which there is a flux and metal powder. This allows you to better protect the weld pool from the inclusion of the external environment when using inert gas or even cook without a cylinder.
This technology has found application in the welding of tanks for the chemical industry, the installation of remote structures where it is not possible to deliver a gas cylinder, or underwater welding.
But a slag crust forms at the seam, which requires cleaning. Such a wire is much more expensive, so it is justified only in the above cases.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elitech 0606.016000 (0.8 mm; 1 kg) | E71T-GS (5 kg; 0.8 mm) Cedar | QUATTRO ELEMENTI 770-384 (0.45 kg; 0.8 mm) | |||||||
| Weight, kg | 1 | 5 | 0,45 | ||||||
| Diameter mm | 0,8 | 0,8 | 0,8 | ||||||
| Euro Coil | D100 | D200 | D100 | ||||||
| Brand homeland | Russia | Russia | Russia | ||||||
Elitech 0606.016000 (0.8 mm; 1 kg)
Additive material from a Russian manufacturer. It differs in even laying on a coil and is fully designed for welding without gas.
+ Pros of Elitech 0606.016000
- It holds the arc perfectly and protects the weld pool from inclusions.
- The seam is smooth, almost without scales.
- The filler metal spreads well.
- A large amount of flux inside.
- Cons Elitech 0606.016000
- Each kilogram of wire costs over 1000 rubles.
- All users report an increased amount of spray, which requires longer post-treatment.
- It needs a long adjustment of speed and voltage, since it can burn before reaching the metal being welded.
Conclusion. This additive has entered into welding wire rating blThanks to deep penetration, even with narrow edges. It is suitable for welding critical joints, where strength is the priority, not the aesthetic beauty of the seam.
E71T-GS (5 kg; 0.8 mm) Cedar
Another Russian product. Available in large baboons of 5 kg with a diameter of 0.8 mm. In addition to joining the sides, it is able to slightly alloy the seam due to the available additives.
+ Pros E71T-GS (5 kg; 0.8 mm) Cedar
- The price is much lower than other powder wires.
- It is delivered in a reliable packaging that prevents wetting of the flux.
- Easy to melt and flow.
- Strong and beautiful wide seams turn out.
- Cons E71T-GS (5 kg; 0.8 mm) Cedar
- Only compatible with inert gases.
- The winding is not always smooth.
- May slightly leave pores in the seam structure.
Conclusion. This is an excellent welding wire for surfacing metal in specific conditions. With proper adjustment, you can achieve a thicker joint than other versions of the additive, which reduces the number of passes to achieve the desired height.
QUATTRO ELEMENTI 770-384 (0.45 kg; 0.8 mm)
Italian welding wire in a Euro coil with a weight of 450 g and a diameter of 0.8 mm. Suitable for welding with all types of shielding gas, and without them.
+ Pros of QUATTRO ELEMENTI 770-384 (0.45 kg; 0.8 mm)
- With the right settings, even thin sheets with a cross section of 0.3 mm can be welded.
- The filler metal lies down easily - it is especially convenient to weld holes.
- Deep fusion.
- Almost no pores.
- Does not burn metal and is not squeezed out from the back.
- Cons QUATTRO ELEMENTI 770-384 (0.45 kg; 0.8 mm)
- The filler metal lies down easily - it is especially convenient to weld holes.
- Deep fusion.
- Almost no pores.
- Does not burn metal and is not squeezed out from the back.
Conclusion. Good wire for semi-automatic and auto repair in the field. It is suitable for welding a thin body, as well as a thick frame, side members. Holds the arc well and helps to create a durable seam in a short time.
The best stainless welding wire
Stainless steel wire is designed for welding alloy steels. Due to the same composition, it does not cause cracks during cooling of the metal and it can be processed in the same way as the main material (grind, polish), completely hiding the marks of welding.
This type of wire is widely used for welding manifolds, flanges in the chemical industry with an aggressive environment, the manufacture of towel warmers and other stainless steel products.
Features of the wire are the high cost and increased amount of spray on the metal, requiring the use of a special spray that prevents adhesion.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WESTER STW08045b | Foxweld ER-308 LSi Sv-04X19H9 (1 kg; 0.8 mm; D100) |
|||||||
| Weight, kg | 0,45 | 5 | ||||||
| Diameter mm | 0,8 | 0,8 | ||||||
| Euro Coil | D100 | D100 | ||||||
| Brand homeland | China | Italy | ||||||
WESTER STW08045b
Product from a Chinese brand. It is sold weighing from 450 g. The wire is affordable and has increased resistance to intergranular corrosion.
+ Pros of WESTER STW08045b
- Promotes the formation of a durable and thick weld in one pass.
- Sealed compounds that tolerate fluid pressure well.
- Cons WESTER STW08045b
- Promotes the formation of a durable and thick weld in one pass.
- Sealed compounds that tolerate fluid pressure well.
Conclusion. A great option for the manufacture or repair of containers used in the food industry. The wire is enriched with nickel and contains a very small amount of carbon, which makes the seams especially resistant to corrosion.
Foxweld ER-308 LSi Sv-04X19H9 (1 kg; 0.8 mm; D100)
Semi-automatic Italian filler wire, manufactured in China under the control of the company's European employees. It has 5 additives that significantly improve the quality of the seam (C, Ni, Si, Cr, Mn).
+ Pluses Foxweld ER-308 LSi Sv-04X19H9 (1 kg; 0.8 mm; D100)
- High corrosion resistance.
- Particularly sturdy joints withstanding fracture and tensile stress.
- The product is well sealed (polyethylene and cardboard packaging), which protects it from environmental influences and damage during transportation.
- Cons Foxweld ER-308 LSi Sv-04X19H9 (1 kg; 0.8 mm; D100)
- To cook with this wire you need a direct current apparatus.
- Bad seams in carbon dioxide - you need pure argon or a mixture.
- A marketing trick is used in the products - a filler material weighing 900 g is sold in a box with the inscription 1 kg.
Conclusion. This item is in semi-automatic welding wire rating for due to the high silicon content. This makes the seam more durable and is suitable for welding joints on which an increased load will be applied.
The best aluminum welding wire
It is used to make seams on structures made of aluminum and its alloys. This is a highly specialized type of welding, which is in demand in car services, the food industry, the chemical industry and in the repair of water transport. This type of additive is not suitable for joining other types of metals, and welding with its use needs a certain skill.
ER 5356 (ALMG5)
In-line aluminum wire. It is sold weighing from 500 g to 7 kg. Suitable for semi-automatic welding of aluminum plates, pipes and profiles, in which the magnesium content is less than 3%.
+ Pros of ER 5356 (ALMG5)
- Good reel retention during transport thanks to a film cover and cardboard packaging.
- There are no pores in the seam.
- Suitable not only for butt joints in the lower position, but also for corner joints both from the inside and from the outside.
- There are no undercuts on the top wall with a fillet weld.
- Cons ER 5356 (ALMG5)
- High-quality welding is only possible with direct current.
- The seam is high and with rough scales.
- The tensile strength of 265 MPa is not the highest in the category.
- It is necessary to set a high feed rate - it melts quickly.
- After welding, a strong black coating.
- Suitable for long seams, since on short ones it does not give high-quality heating of the metal and lies only on top.
Conclusion. Excellent aluminum wire for welding block heads or crankcase covers, which is useful in the workshop. It has an elongation of 26%, which contributes to a good transfer of thermal expansion.
Video selection on a welding wire for a semiautomatic device
Flux cored wire versus solid:
What wire to choose for a semiautomatic device: