Different Types of MIG Welding Wire 

MIG welding wire consists of a spooled-up electrode that’s fed through a MIG welding “gun” and is heated to melt metal and join workpieces together. Sounds simple enough, right? Well, it’s not quite that easy. There are a lot of different types of MIG welding wire, and in this article, we’ll explain some of the differences between them, what to    welding wire   consider when choosing welding wire, and the importance of choosing high-quality wire.

Flux-Core vs. Solid MIG Welding Wire

There are two primary types of MIG welding wire – flux-core and solid MIG welding wire. Flux-core wire is a metal electrode that contains a “flux compound” inside the electrode. When the wire melts and reacts with the welding arc, this forms a gas that protects the weld from oxygen, which can cause defects in the weld. This means that no shielding gas is required for this type of wire – though in some cases, shielding gas may be used alongside flux-core wire for even more protection.

In contrast, solid wire electrodes are exactly what they sound like – large reels of solid metal wire that do not contain any flux. This means they must be used with a shielding gas. The most common shielding gas is 75% argon and 25% carbon dioxide. The welding gun delivers a steady stream of gas from a container, which surrounds the electrode and weld area to prevent oxidation and defects in the weld.

Depending on the application, both kinds of MIG welding wire (solid and flux-core) can be made from a variety of materials including aluminum, stainless steel, copper, and silver, to name just a few.