Welding Wire

[ccracin]

I wanted to get some thoughts on Silicon Bronze Mig wire. We are doing alot of sheet metal work right now. I have a Lincoln MIG welder and thought about using this type of wire. I had done some reading up on it and it seems alot of folks like it for doing 16ga. and thinner. I got a roll today and started playing. Any recommendations on using it? It does not seem to burn in quite as well as standard wire. Any and all thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

Mods, if this should be in another section feel free to move it. Thanks.

[ccracin]

All these fabricators and no opinions or information! Can a brother get some help?

[Blake Foster]

we use it for different applications with sheet metal like the oil pans and headers. but all TIG process. didn't know you could get it for MIG
it works great with the TIG

[Autokraft]

Ya we use silicone bronze all the time on sheetmetal as well using a Tig. Never knew they had it for a Mig

[coolwelder62]

WHY!! would you want to mig weld w/ it. I think weld qualtiy would be horible.I would try plusing w/ a mig if you want nice looking welds on thin materials.

[ccracin]

Thanks guys. I have been playing around with it. I think the trouble I have is that I am thinking the base steel sheet metal should melt as with a typical weld. I don't think that can happen here. This is almost brazing using a mig to short circuit and feed the wire. I have had decent luck with half the voltage and twice the wire speed that I would use to weld with carbon steel wire. Any other input would be great. I wish I had the coin for a TIG! Oh, well learn by doing!

[GregWeld]

Chad! Post up a picture or your bird poop!

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by coolwelder62

WHY!! would you want to mig weld w/ it. I think weld qualtiy would be horible.I would try plusing w/ a mig if you want nice looking welds on thin materials.

My MIG does not have the pulsing feature. I have been doing pretty well with short 1/4" or so tacks with the correct settings. I had just been doing some reading on Metalmeet and ran across some mention about TIG and MIG welding with Silicon Bronze. The benefits are suppose to be less heat applied, lower distortion, and much easier to metal finish. I am NOT an overly skilled welder. Not bad, but not GOOD either. So, any thing I can do to reduce distortion and finish easier I have to explore. I have an expert welder at my disposal, but for non-structural stuff I hate to have to wait for his schedule. Plus, I love to learn new stuff. I'll try to get some pictures of the results as I move along.

[ccracin]

Originally Posted by GregWeld

Chad! Post up a picture or your bird poop!

If you don't have anything nice to say!!!!!!!!!!! Actually, how did you know? I had some pretty nice goobers at first. I'm getting there. We'll see if where I get to is where I want to go.

Don't tell me you don't have anything to say on the subject! I really think there is hope for this. Pick up a spool and head to the "Shed" it's R&D time!

[GregWeld]

I've never even TIG'd with the stuff...

I had to go research to see if you were out of your mind when you said you were MIG'n with it!

My first question would be -- if it's more like "brazing" -- about it's strength and cracking etc.