MIG starter supply suggestions?

[redbeard]

OK, finally time to make the trek to the LWS and get going with the MIG. Got a list going with a few questions.

Mostly will be welding not-very-clean steel between 1/8 and 1/2. Got a couple spools of wire already, 1lb ER70s6 .023 and part of an ancient spool of Verti-Cor70 dual-shield .035.

And for the shopping list:

Tips
Diffusers
Gas, the Verticor calls for 75/25, but I was actually leaning towards 80/20 for a better shot at spray transfer. Opinions needed.
33lb ER70S6 for the go-to spool, I'm thinking .035.
1lb Al, 4043 I presume?
Hardfacing wire - abrasion resistant, any recommendations? Reasonably priced sources?
MIG pliers, only $7 at HF, what the heck.
Wire cleaning pads.
Regulator

Am I forgetting anything? Getting something I shouldn't be?

[Rambozo]

Might as well add a pound of 5356 alum wire. Some drives do a lot better with that.
Nozzle gel or spray.
Mig gloves (depending on what you have now).

All I can think of at the moment, but I'm sure I'm overlooking something.
You already have pure argon for the alum, right?

[Kempy]

I tried 98% Argon/2% O2 for Spray Arc Transfer on steel it worked OK but with a little adjustment I got 75% Argon 25% co2 to work just fine, 80% Argon 20% Co2 I could not find any different for the price. I set the MTS250S to SYN Mig 24.0V 200A SYN to Steel and wire to .035 wire was S-6. And welded .375 plate to 1.5 X 1.5 bar. Good grinder is nice with different disc hard and soft.

[Jason]

if its not too late maybe a roll of wire for stainless steel if you ever work with it.

[redbeard]

Ah yes, the nozzle spray, thanks. I do have straight Ar, one of the reasons I gave up even trying to dial in.

I don't think I ever touched the 308 from when I stocked for TIG, so I'll skip that for now.

I'll have to do a bit more research on the hardfacing, hope it won't be too picky about the gas. I sorta doubt they stock it anyway.

[everlastsupport]

Extra contact tips of .023, .030 and .035. Nozzle spray or dip work, or PAM. Did you get a spool gun? 4043 probably will not feed well.

[redbeard]

Extra contact tips of .023, .030 and .035. Nozzle spray or dip work, or PAM. Did you get a spool gun? 4043 probably will not feed well.

Yep, the SM-200N. I hope you don't mean that it wont feed well from the spoolgun.

Got a couple surprises at the store, price to buy a cylinder was WAY up from a year ago, but the rest of the steff didn't add up to as much as I thought.

And LWSs don't seem to stock much in the way of Binzel parts. Time to make an order from China I guess. Looks like liners are quite cheap there, might as well get some. How long do they usually last?

[everlastsupport]

Yep, the SM-200N. I hope you don't mean that it wont feed well from the spoolgun.

Got a couple surprises at the store, price to buy a cylinder was WAY up from a year ago, but the rest of the steff didn't add up to as much as I thought.

And LWSs don't seem to stock much in the way of Binzel parts. Time to make an order from China I guess. Looks like liners are quite cheap there, might as well get some. How long do they usually last?

You will want a spool gun to feed 4043, will not feed well without.

I have a 5+ year old binzel that has the original liner. And has feed flux and solid wire. But wire is always clean since it is used a few times a week. No wire cleaner either.