Old MIG Wire

Following on slightly from the rusty wire thread, is it possible to use MIG wire for TIG welding?

As it was costing me well over £100 a year just to rent the gas bottle and then realising I hadn't used it for 4 years back the bottle went to BOC (my only choice as far as I'm aware).

Now having the urge to try TIG and having 5 Kg reels of 0.8mm MIG wire lying around is it of any use for TIG, or anything else for that matter? (Before I start coughing up £120 a year for argon!)

Paul

A few years ago i took a bottle to exchange to BOC and the chap said the last one I had was 11 years before

So I looked around and got a bottle from a local welding supplier £100 for the bottle for life and £30 a refill

I now have 2 one for MIG and one for TIG

Hi, yes you can use your mig wire.however its quite thin and it will be difficult to control the weld pool temperature,by using the wire.

Hi Paul

I had the same problem with gas supplies - rental was becoming very expensive from Air Products for my occasional usage.

If you're in the south-east you might like to try Adams Gas based in Margate - **LINK** or one of their local stockists. Welding gases at around £36 per fill (for 9 litres) and a £55 deposit (you get it back when you return the bottle). No annual rental charges or handling fees. Very good value for low or occasional usage.

If you're not in the south-east then I believe they have a network of stockists covering other parts of the country, and if not suitable then I'm sure that there are other suppliers around with a similar service.

Good luck

If you get annoyed with the rental cost, as I did , I have found this outfit very useful.

**LINK**

Pete

Thanks gents but as I'm in Jersey the options are BOC or err BOC!

I know Air Products are available but only to business' it seems.

I just bought bottles for my MIG and TIG sets from Gas UK, very reasonable prices and unlike AdamsGas, they will supply a 20 Litre bottle to non trade customers.

I've tried using MIG wire for tig and, unless you are doing micro welding, the 0.8 wire is just too thin to allow good control. Minimum I normally use is 1.6mm

Cut off several lengths and twist them together in an electric drill to form the equivalent of a thicker rod.

Martin.