Why use Flux cored / CO2 shielded wires?

Because for welding material say 5mm thick and upwards it is:

• Easier to use!
• Less defects!
• FASTER!
• And costs less!

What's the difference between wires?

• It is a 1.2mm or 1.6mm pipe with flux in the core because the I.D. is so small the flux formulation is critical.
• It is difficult to manufacture a perfect wire which is perfectly round and perfectly sized.
• Perfect wires WILL make you money and they are easier to use and good results can be achieved from less skilled operators.

We stock the following three brands of flux cored wires:

NIPPON (Japan)
SF1 on 12.5kg coils 1.0mm, on 20 kg coils 1.2mm, 1.4mm and 1.6mm
SF 316L on 5kg coil in 0.8mm

KOBE (Japan)
DW 100 on 20kg coils in 1.2mm and 1.6mm
DW50 on 15 kg coils in 1.2mm
MXIOOT on 20kg coils in 1.2mm
DWH600 (hard facing) on 20kg coils in 1.2mm and 1.6mm
DW316L (stainless) on 5kg coils 0.9mm
DW316L (stainless) on 12.5kg coils in 0.9mm and 1.2mm
DW309MoL on 12.5kg in 1.2mm
DW329J3L (Duplex) on 12.5kg coils in 1.2mm

CHOSUN Welding
CSF 71T1 on 2Okg coils in 1.2mm and 1.6mm

"What's the difference between MIG wires? (Other than price)."

MIG wire is drawn down from approximately 10mm diameter bar and then copper coated and spooled.

The quality control of the original bar "IS" important, the drawing process can make the wire perfectly round and perfectly sized or NOT. The copper coating can have one coat or up to three.
All these factors assist with smooth feeding and smooth current transfer which reduces downtime, spatter, cleanup, deposition rates etc...
The best wires cannot be the cheapest per KG to buy, but they CAN save you money! And consistently!

We have two brands of solid wire as follows:

Kobe (the best)
MG51T on 20KG coils in 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1.0mm, and 1.2mm diameters.

Chosun Welding MC50T on 5 KG coils in 0.6mm and 0.8mm
Chosun Welding MC50T on 15 KG coils in 0.8mm, 0.9mm, 1.0mm and 1.2mm
Chosun Welding MC50T in 250KG pail packs in 0.9mm, 1.0mm 1.2mm and 1.6mm

Chosun Welding MC 316Lsi on 15 KG coils in 0.9mm
Chosun Welding MC 309Lsi on 5 KG coils in 0.9mm
Chosun Welding MC 316Lsi on 5 KG coils in 0.9mm

Today, flux cored arc welding electrodes hold an appreciable share of the total arc welding electrode market. This share will continue to grow because of constantly increasing labour costs. In fact, labor and overhead account for the vast majority of total welding cost (see Exhibit 1). More and more welding applications will switch to semi-automatic, automatic and robotized welding processes furthering the demand for high quality continuous electrodes of all types.

HIGH DEPOSITION RATES OF SMALL DIAMETER ELECTRODES

It is known that as the cross sectional area of a conductor decreases, the resistance to current flow increases. This resistance to current flow will cause considerable heating of the conductor if the current is relatively high and the conductor is small in cross sectional area. In other words, at a given current in amperes, the current density within the conductor will increase as the diameter of the conductor is reduced.

It is this high current density that makes gas metal arc welding with small diameter solid or flux cored wires the success that it is. The high resistance heating of the wire is confined to a small area, and the electrode reaches its' melting point very quickly, producing a concentrated deep penetrating arc. The deposition rate and the efficiency are very high.

When comparing a solid wire with a flux cored wire of equal diameter, it is readily seen that the flux cored wire with its metal sheath, has a smaller current carrying area than the solid wire since the flux is a very poor conductor. The current density is considerably higher in the flux cored wire and therefore the deposition rate will also be somewhat higher.