Introduction
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The Importance of Flux Cored Wires
When it comes to flux cored welding, the wire you choose has a significant impact on the quality of your welds. While skill plays a crucial role, achieving outstanding results requires using high-quality wires.
Introducing the Best Flux Cored Wires
We understand that experimenting with different wires is not ideal, especially when your safety is at stake. That’s why we’ve done the legwork for you and found five top-notch flux cored wires that consistently deliver clean welds. Let’s take a closer look!
In a Hurry?
If you’re in a rush, here are our top three recommendations for different budgets:
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Hobart Fabshield .030 E71T-11: An all-position self-shielded wire designed for quick and easy farm repair jobs. Ideal for mild steel.
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Forney E71T-GS: A professional-grade wire suitable for gasless welding, especially in light wind conditions. Ideal for tough misalignment welds.
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Lincoln Innershield .035: A self-shielding stranded wire designed for use with various materials. Great for welding misaligned joints with a poor fit.
The Best Flux Cored Wire, with Reviews
We’ve carefully evaluated the market to bring you five flux cored wires that are perfect for your welding needs. Read on to discover our top picks!
1. Hobart Fabshield E71T-11 .030 Welding Wire
- Carbon steel wire
- Suitable for thin metal sheets
- Designed for use on galvanized steel
- 2 lb roll
- 0.030 inch diameter
Advantages:
- All-position MIG welding wire
- Ideal for rusty, dirty, or painted steel
- Perfect for outdoor welding
- High-speed for efficient one-way work
- Offers more heat than solid wires
Shortcomings:
- Some complaints about excessive splatter
- Reports of spool defects causing injuries
Overview:
The Hobart Fabshield E71T-11 is a high-quality flux cored wire with a 0.030 inch diameter and impressive tensile strength. It excels in multi-position welding but may require higher heat compared to other brands for similar penetration. While some users have reported excessive splashing and spool issues, adjusting the amperage and ensuring deeper penetration can alleviate these problems. Overall, this wire is our top favorite for its versatility and exceptional performance.
2. Forney E71T-GS .030 Core MIG Wire
- E71T-11 wire
- Suitable for sheet metal or panels
- Welded galvanized steel
- 2 lb spool
- 0.030 inch diameter wire
Advantages:
- Suitable for multi-position welding
- Works well on painted or rusted metal
- Ideal for breezy conditions
- Enables high-speed single-pass welding
- Reliable performance
Shortcomings:
- Some users reported feeding problems
Overview:
The Forney E71T-GS is a self-shielded flux cored welding wire with a 0.030 inch diameter. It can be used in all positions and boasts a tensile strength of 79,000 PSI. Forney recommends using an argon/CO2 gas mixture on MIG welders to reduce spatter. While some users have experienced feeding issues and wire quality concerns, overall, this wire receives positive feedback and delivers satisfying results.
3. Lincoln Innershield NR-211-MP .035 MIG Wire
- 0.035 inch diameter
- High tensile strength E71T-11
- Creates prominent bead appearance
- Designed for use on galvanized steel
- 1 lb spool
Advantages:
- Capable of welding plates up to 5/16″
- Suitable for painted and rusted metals
- Excellent for outdoor welding
- Easy slag removal
- Offers reliable performance
Shortcomings:
- Comes in 1 lb spools instead of 2 lb
- Some quality control issues reported
Overview:
The Lincoln Innershield NR-211-MP Flux-Cored Wire is a versatile option with a 0.035 inch diameter. It provides excellent penetration for plate thicknesses up to 5/16 inch and works exceptionally well on coated, galvanized, painted, or rusted metal. While some users have faced issues with spool size and quality control, the wire’s overall performance and bead appearance make it a reliable choice.
4. Yeswelder E71T-GS .030 Welding Wire
- Suitable for offset welding
- Self-shielded welding wire
- Carbon manganese steel
- 2 lb spool
- 0.030 inch flux cored wire
Advantages:
- Low spatter
- Works well on rusted, painted, or galvanized steel
- Easy slag removal
- Non-porous welding wire
- Creates good bead formation
Shortcomings:
- Not suitable for U.S. or EU government positions
Overview:
The Yeswelder E71T-GS is a mild steel wire with a 0.030 inch diameter for all-position welding. Users have praised its low spatter and excellent weld bead appearance. This wire is particularly effective for multi-pass welding and is well-suited for beginners and production sheet metal work. It offers reliable performance, but please note that it cannot meet certification standards for U.S. or EU government projects since it is manufactured in Hong Kong.
5. Blue Devils E71T-GS .035 Flux Cored Wire
- Wire diameter: 0.035 inches
- Can weld plates up to 3/8″
- Suitable for single or multi-pass welding
- Ideal for galvanized steel
- 2 lb roll
Advantages:
- Provides good slag coverage that is easy to remove
- Produces beautiful weld beads
- Works well on dirty or painted steel
- Offers excellent shielding for outdoor welding with low smoke
- Covers sheet metal gaps effectively
Shortcomings:
- Some users report excessive splattering
- Feeding issues with certain machines
Overview:
The Blue Demon E71T-GS .035 Flux Cored Welding Wire is a self-shielded mild steel wire suitable for carbon and manganese steels. It excels in single and multi-pass welding, making it ideal for various applications such as seam welding and filling gaps. While the wire’s quality is generally good, it is not suitable for U.S. or European government work due to its origin in China. We recommend testing its compatibility with your welding machine before purchasing.
About Jeff Grill
Jeff Grill is an experienced welder from Long Island, a scenic stretch of land along the East Coast. He developed a passion for welding from a young age and has honed his skills in working with various metals.