MIG Wire Buying Guide

Access all the information you need to choose the right MIG wire

Horizontal Fillet Weld

Square Groove Butt Joint

"V" Groove Butt Joint

Spooled Wired Application Guide

Suggested Airgas Shielding Gases

Small Machines – Mild Steel Applications

  • Argon/CO2 mix 75/25 industrial grade
    • Available in various cylinder sizes
  • ARCAL Flux
    • Only available in size 300 cylinders

Mid-size Machines – Mild Steel Applications

  • Argon/CO2 mix 75/25
    • Various size cylinders
    • Will allow short circuit transfer only
  • ARCAL Flux
    • Only available in size 300 cylinders
  • ARCAL Force
    • Will allow short circuit and spray transfer
    • Only available in size 300 cylinders

Mid-size Machines – Stainless Steel Applications

  • ARCAL M12 He35
    • Will allow short circuit and spray transfer
    • Only available in size 300 cylinders
  • ARCAL Chrome

Mid-size Machines – Aluminum Applications

  • Argon industrial grade
    • For all thickness below ¼″
    • Available in various cylinder sizes
  • ARCAL Prime
    • For all thickness above ¼″
    • Only available in size 300 cylinders
  • ARCAL He20
    • For all thickness above ¼″
    • Only available in size 300 cylinders

ARCAL shielding gases are equipped with either SMARTOP™ or EXELTOP™

Welding Wire/Method Recommendations

Aluminum MIG Welding: Five Things to Consider

  1. The best feeding of wire for aluminum is done with a spool gun. If you can’t use a spool gun, use the shortest gun possible and keep the gun as straight as possible. Use argon only for shielding gas. Only use a push gun technique when welding aluminum.
  2. If you are having feeding problems, one thing you can try is a contact tip that is one size bigger than your wire.
  3. The most common wire type is ER4043 for all-purpose work. ER5356 is a stiffer wire (easier to feed), and is used when more rigid, higher-strength weld properties are needed.
  4. Clean the aluminum before welding, to help remove the oxide layer. Use a stainless steel wire brush used only for cleaning aluminum.
  5. Fill the crater at the end of the weld to avoid a crack. One way to do this is to dwell in the weld pool for a second at the end of the weld.

Typical Operating Procedures for Filler and Lap Welding – Aluminum

Aluminum Welding Parameters

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Welds & Joints Spooled Wired Application Guide Suggested Airgas Shielding Gases Aluminum MIG Welding