Tried that new flux-core wire from the supply house and it welded like garbage on a 1/2 inch plate

Picked up a spool of that E71T-11 stuff they were pushing at the counter over at Brown's Welding Supply last Tuesday. Thought I'd save a few bucks versus my usual Lincoln NR-211. First pass on a 1/2 inch plate looked like bird droppings, spatter everywhere. Ended up grinding it all off and redoing it with my old wire. Guess I learned my lesson about switching brands on a paying job. Anybody else had bad luck with a specific flux-core wire?

2 comments

2 Comments

charlesanderson25d ago

Did you happen to notice if that wire was stored properly before you got it? Might be moisture in the flux, I've had that happen with off-brand spools that sat on a shelf too long. It's always a gamble when you think you're saving money on wire, ends up costing you more in time and grinding discs.

margaret23425d ago

Oh man, I grabbed a roll of that same E71T-11 stuff from a different supplier last month and it was a disaster... couldn't keep a steady arc to save my life, just made a mess on some 3/8 inch plate I was welding up. Switched back to my Hobart brand wire and it ran smooth as butter right out of the gate. Never again with that cheap junk.