Tig filler metal for .04 electrode

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Bart K 10 years ago

The smallest diameter mild steel filler metal I can get from my local weldi ng supplier is 1/16, but when I use a .04 tungsten electrode, I find it har d to melt, and the bead is the classic "turkey droppings". Running about 65 amps; any higher burns through my work piece (again mild steel scrap).

I was told to get a 0.045 mig spool. I did, but it very hard to use due to the coil. I cut off a small length, try to straighten by hand, but it is st ill too crooked to accurately dab into puddle.

Is there an online supplier for 0.04 or 0.045 filler? Or is there a way to straighten from a mig spool? Thanks for any advice.

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BobH 10 years ago

I had the same issue with Aluminum and .023 wire. After some practice, I can straighten short chunks (a foot or so) by hand. Also, look in the metalworking dropbox, I think Ernie Leimkuhler posted pictures of a MIG wire straightener for this task.

BobH

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David Billington 10 years ago

A standard thing for this is to use locking wire pliers, see

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, to twist the wire which will straighten it. Clamp one end in a vice or similar and use the pliers to give it a couple of twists and it should end up straight. I expect a drill would do the same job if the chuck can grip the wire. I regularly use MIG as TIG filler but mainly for what I do just roughly straighten it by hand, I'll use my locking wire pliers if I need a longer straight length.

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David Billington 10 years ago

I think it may have been this one

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Bob Engelhardt 10 years ago

If you pull it to it's tensile limit, it will straighten. For .045 "70" wire that would require a pull of 115 lbs. My mind is racing with ideas about devices to do the pulling, but I won't spoil your fun.

Bob

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Wally 10 years ago

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Bob Engelhardt 10 years ago

Neat, easy, fast!

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Richard Smith 10 years ago

You kind-of get used to the wire being floppy and off-the-spool. Used 0.8mm (about 32thou) stainless filler wire from MIG spool for TIG'ing stainless at around 40A. You can have quite long length dangling and be OK - say 1.5m - will hang to floor (which must be super-clean!). Concentrate on your wire-feeding action - practice when not welding - visualise it as building up muscles you don't normally target in any other exercise.

I took a bit of movie on wirefeed.

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Gloves only off so you can see. Practice with TIG gloves on. Rich Smith

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RogerW 10 years ago

There is lots of 045 tig rod sold on ebay, both steel and stainless. Just search "tig rod 045". Another possible source of filler is 040 stainless safety wire which I have used in a pinch.

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Bob La Londe 10 years ago

Use the MIG spool if it works.

Its pretty easy to straighten.

Spool out several feet and clamp it in a vise by the spool. Then grab the loose end with a pair of good ViseGrip pliers, and back away from the vise. Pull back on it until you feel it stretch slightly. Then clip the now straight section into workable size pieces.

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Bob La Londe 10 years ago

I straighten some wire here at 3:37 in this video.

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Tig filler metal for .04 electrode

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