Consumables
What MIG wire size should I use?
Quick answer
Use 0.9 mm MIG wire for most Australian hobby and light-trade steel work: it runs well 1.5–6 mm. Drop to 0.6–0.8 mm for thin sheet under 1.5 mm; step up to 1.2 mm for sustained 6 mm+ fabrication. ER70S-6 is the standard mild steel wire class.
Wire by thickness
| Thickness | Wire | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 0.8–1.5 mm | 0.6–0.8 mm | arc control, less heat |
| 1.5–6 mm | 0.9 mm | the all-rounder |
| 6 mm+ | 1.0–1.2 mm | deposition for full fusion |
ER70S-6 meaning
er70s-6: 'ER' electrode-rod, 70 = 70,000 psi tensile, 'S' solid wire, 6 = deoxidiser level handling rusty/mill-scaled steel better. It's the default mild steel MIG wire in Australia and there's rarely a reason for hobby work to deviate.