HH 175 and .035

[axehind]

Just wondering what peoples experiences were running .035 wire on a HH175. I've only run .030 in the past but was thinking about trying .035. Most of my welding metal thicknesses have been between 1/8" and 1/4".

Thanks,
axehind

[Aaron]

I run .035" almost exclusively, with great results. I really prefer the Hobart "Weld-it" brand wire, and a 10# spool is $20 at TSC.

That said, the .030" is fine for what you're doing. Why do you want to change? As I said, I use .035". I'm just curious what your expectations are.

[Sberry]

Like Arron said it will run 035, but I preffer 030 in smaller machines as it gives ood performance on sheet metal as well as excellent on stuff t 1/8th and still works up to 1/4. I think it is prefferable to trying to choke 035 thru a small machine. Just like any machine of any type its going to last longer running it 2/3 over being wide open.

[axehind]

Originally posted by Aaron
That said, the .030" is fine for what you're doing. Why do you want to change? As I said, I use .035". I'm just curious what your expectations are.

I usually bevel the edges and I thought the .035 would "fill up" the bevel better and faster. As it's pretty obvious, I'm new to this and was going to give it a try.

axehind

[axehind]

Originally posted by Sberry27
I think it is prefferable to trying to choke 035 thru a small machine. Just like any machine of any type its going to last longer running it 2/3 over being wide open.

Thats a good point.

axehind

[Sundown]

Maybe this dosn't apply, but here's what I have found out with my MM175. It seems to like .030 ok up to 3/16", but performance from 1/8" up seems to be better using .035. I have yet to try .024 I am mostly just trying to get used to variable voltage and this [frustrating] wire tracking. After this weekends performance [lots of splatter, welds ok] I just about went to the dealer to trade for a HH175 [even if I lost money] or get MM210 [cept I really don't have the extra 5-6 hundred to spend]. I spent about two more hours this morning, after some sleep, with .035 wire and 1/8" & 3/16" steel and things are looking better, splatter is getting under control and penitration looks good. Wire is weldit. My wife thinks it's funny, I spent a lot of dollars, got a bigger, better [?]welder and I'm back where I started a year ago...I think I need to change my name from "Sundown" to "Humbled".

[Aaron]

Here's why I use .035" wire:

Back when I had my HH135 I was told that it was "really only good for .023" wire, and maybe .030" on the outside. So I bought a spool of each of these sized to try. As I tend to stay in the 1/4" range myself, I found the .023" just didn't work, and the .030" was better, but not what I expected. So I bought a spool of .035" wire, which was still an improvement. I showed my welds to a weldor, who told me they were too cold, that I needed MORE POWER! (my favorite)

I upgraded to a HH175, and tried the .023" wire, which was worthless on the 1/4" stock. I tried the .030" wire, and it was much better. So I decided to try the .035", and I got excellent results. As Sberry said, I was running the unit wide open, but I got the results I wanted.

I still have several spools of the .023" wire and .030" wire, but I imagine they're corroding as we speak, as they are close to three years old. The .023" is probably 90%+ full, and the .030" is probably at least half full.

[Sundown]

I was planning on keeping .030 in the MM175 but after this mornings performance I will be keeping .035 in it and have a 2# spool of .023 for sheet metal in a air tight container. That is, after I burn up the 6#'s of .030 I bought.

[axehind]

I havent had to really go over 1/4" yet. And if I did, I would probably use my O/A setup up to 1/2" depending on the joint. I know most people will be asking "why use O/A when you can do multiple passes with the mig?". To answer I will just have to say it's my preference for now. I have practiced with O/A from 3/16" up to 3/8".

axehind

[Sundown]

Dan,

Once again, you are the man. I had that chart sitting in the side pouch of the cover I made and never thought to look at it the whole weekend. If I read it right 3/16" is just out of the range of .030, and all my trying this weekend confirmed that, at least for me. Good thing I loaded .035 in this morning before I went to the dealer and made a fool of myself . As they say, you never stop learning something new [even if it was something I should have known]. BTY, I have started a spreadsheet for the MM175 settings. I'll email you a copy tonight, let me know what you think...

[rjgogo]

Would you mind sending it to me as well, I have been playing around with the settings and being less experienced then many of the others here some direction either way would help. I was doing some 1/4 inch this weekend and was getting a fair amount of splatter and was having trouble getting it dialed in. I had it set pretty well with the .030 and .023 on thinner metal but having a little trouble with the thicker stuff. [email protected]

[bitternut]

axehind..........I have used quite a bit of .035" wire in my HH175 but I use mostly flux-core. Most of my projects seem to require thick metal. Almost everything I do requires 1/4" or more. Here is a picture of a 3 point trailer hitch I welded up. The materials used were 1/4", 3/8", 5/8" and 2"square solid. It seems to be holding up quite well so far. I really like flux-core wire.

[bitternut]

Here is a picture of the hitch being used to haul out a couple of 20 footers.

[Mike W]

On my Hobart Betamig 200 I run about 100 amps with .035 wire. I was watching a welder friend of mine's big Lincoln while he was welding. The guage was right at 100 amps.

[Sundown]

rjgogo,

Done, make sure you read the disclaimer

Bitternut,

That is very impresssive, thanks for posting those pictures.