Hobart Beta-Mig 250 drive roll

[Shimmy1]

Welds very nice, took a bit to sort everything out, but she runs good. Came with the split 30-35 and 45 knurled roller. I've always used smooth rollers on hard wire, will this be a problem for a 30-40 pounds of wire a year? A little research shows if you keep the liner blown clean you can run knurled on hard wire? I cannot find a smooth roller anywhere online, and the local Miller dealer called today and said no dice on replacement rolls. Any ideas? I have zero interest in running dual shield, just so that's said.

 

[Joe H]

Machine shop?

Joe H

 

[Shimmy1]

Machine shop?

Joe H

I read that a guy can make them. How would you get the right profile, or doesn't it matter?

 

[Joe H]

I'd duplicate the knurled one but smooth. See what happens.

Compared knurled to smooth for a machine that is available.

Joe H

 

[Welder Dave]

Profax/Lenco may have solid drive rolls for it. They have a catalogue online or you could call or e-mail them. Profax number is 800-594-3958 or [email protected]
If they don't have them might know someone that does.
With knurled rolls I'd use as little tension as possible. Try to set it so the wire just curls up in your hand about 6" away. Might want to use lubricated wipes on the wire too. If the drive rolls are too tight or there's a sharp turn in the gun or the contact tip has spatter restricting the wire, the knurled rolls will chew the wire up and the shavings can plug up in the liner.

 

[HarleyHappy]

Shouldn’t be a problem.
Do you have room between the roller and the liner for a wiper, to keep any shavings out of the liner?
I always use a clothespin or a binder clip and a piece of micro cloth, to keep my liner clean.

 

[Shimmy1]

Shouldn’t be a problem.
Do you have room between the roller and the liner for a wiper, to keep any shavings out of the liner?
I always use a clothespin or a binder clip and a piece of micro cloth, to keep my liner clean.

I'm not sure I've seen a feeder with room between the roller and liner.

 

[Welder Dave]

Most if not all wire feeders have the liner as close to the drive wheels as possible.

 

[materthegreater]

I have zero interest in running dual shield, just so that's said.

Why?

 

[willie59]

Why?

My thoughts as well. For sure we don't know the weld material that Shimmy is working with so it's hard to comment on process. But dual shield, gives better penetration than solid wire process and can tolerate moderate breeze. And they make flux core wire that works with 75/25 gas. Why have zero interest?

 

[materthegreater]

Welds very nice, took a bit to sort everything out, but she runs good. Came with the split 30-35 and 45 knurled roller. I've always used smooth rollers on hard wire, will this be a problem for a 30-40 pounds of wire a year? A little research shows if you keep the liner blown clean you can run knurled on hard wire? I cannot find a smooth roller anywhere online, and the local Miller dealer called today and said no dice on replacement rolls. Any ideas? I have zero interest in running dual shield, just so that's said.

I have a Hobart Hefty feeder that I've run solid wire with the knurled drive wheel. I haven't done a lot, maybe 10-20 lbs. No issues that I'm aware of.

 

[Shimmy1]

My thoughts as well. For sure we don't know the weld material that Shimmy is working with so it's hard to comment on process. But dual shield, gives better penetration than solid wire process and can tolerate moderate breeze. And they make flux core wire that works with 75/25 gas. Why have zero interest?

If I'm going to have a mess to clean up, I'll just use 7018, it'll be a better weld anyway. Only place we use wire feed is in the shop, no breeze to worry about.

 

[Welder Dave]

Dual-shield will give a similar weld to 7018. Solid wire in short circuit mode won't be as strong or have as much penetration. Most solid wire is run in short circuit mode because you need a higher amp machine to run in spray transfer. Spray transfer is only done in flat or horizontal position.

 

[HarleyHappy]

I grew up stick welding and always considered Mig Welders glueing metal and anyone could run one, if set up correctly.
My belief has changed, with a good MiG and the right wire, I can weld circles around 7018 and do it twice as fast.
Bonus is, even with flux core, rarely need the needle gun and no chunks of flux all over the place, especially in my coffee cup.

 

[Welder Dave]

Mig is easier to learn but also the easiest to have poor welds especially on thicker steel. Cold lap can be a big problem. Weld looks good but isn't fused on one side. That's why Lincoln was so late getting into Mig welding. If I want/need something to have the highest strength I'll weld it with stick. If I had Dual-Shield I might use it if inside abd there's lots to weld. Stick is nice because you don't need shielding gas and it can used outside without issues. Running out of shielding gas in the middle of a project sucks! Getting a bad Dual-Shield weld with porosity sucks just as bad!