Welding Wire (MIG/MAG)
Solid and flux-cored wire for GMAW/FCAW is what most onboard structural and pipe repairs actually run on, because it welds faster and with less operator skill than stick electrodes — but only if the wire's chemistry actually matches the parent steel, not just its diameter.
What to check on a Welding Wire (MIG/MAG).
1 models from Kiswel Ltd. (Changwon) in Welding Wire (MIG/MAG). Below: the full model list.
What sets MIG/MAG wire apart from stick electrodes and TIG filler
Solid wire (GMAW) and flux-cored wire (FCAW) feed continuously from a spool through a welding gun, giving a much higher deposition rate than a stick electrode that has to be changed every few minutes. Solid wire needs a shielding gas bottle and calm conditions, which makes it a workshop or dry engine-room process; flux-cored wire carries its own flux inside the wire and, in self-shielded grades, needs no external gas at all, which is why it is the more common choice for shipboard repair away from a controlled shop.
Legend
- drive rolls
- gas supply
- torch body
- wire spool
- wire feed unit
- shielding gas
- contact tip
- gas nozzle
- arc
- workpiece
Main components
Solid wire (GMAW/MIG)
Copper-coated mild steel or stainless wire, typically 0.8-1.2 mm for shipboard work, used with a CO2 or argon/CO2 mixed shielding gas. Produces a clean weld with minimal spatter when gas coverage is good, but is vulnerable to porosity the moment wind or a draft disturbs the gas shield — a real limitation on an open deck.
Flux-cored wire (FCAW)
A tubular wire filled with flux, available gas-shielded (higher quality, needs a bottle) or self-shielded (no external gas, tolerant of wind, the practical choice for deck and tank repairs). Deposits slightly more slag than solid wire, which has to be chipped between passes.
Read the full guide
Wire classification and matching
Wires are classified by AWS or equivalent designation (for example ER70S-6 for mild steel solid wire) that specifies tensile strength and chemistry. The wire must match the parent steel grade and, on classed structural repairs, the welding procedure the repair is carried out under.
Selection considerations
- Parent material grade — mild steel hull plate, higher-tensile steel, or stainless piping all need a different wire classification.
- Position — self-shielded flux-cored wire tolerates wind and vertical/overhead positions that solid wire struggles with.
- Diameter matched to the joint thickness and the welding set's amperage range on board.
- Shielding gas availability — a vessel without a steady CO2/argon supply is effectively limited to self-shielded flux-cored wire for out-of-shop repairs.
Regulations and class
Structural repairs to classed hull or pressure parts must follow a welding procedure specification approved by the vessel's class society, with the wire consumable identified as part of that procedure. Class surveyors will ask for the consumable certificate and the approved WPS before accepting a permanent structural repair; temporary repairs carried out for the crew's own safety are typically reported to class at the next port even when done under time pressure.
Typical faults
| Fault | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Wire stored in a humid store without a sealed container | Moisture pickup causes hydrogen porosity and cracking in the finished weld |
| Wrong wire classification used against a higher-tensile steel repair | Weld strength falls below the parent metal, creating a weak point that can fail under load |
| Solid wire used on an open deck in wind | Shielding gas blown away mid-weld, resulting in porous, brittle beads |
| Wire diameter mismatched to the welding set's drive rollers | Inconsistent feed causes burn-back into the contact tip and interrupted arcs |
What to look for in a supplier
- Batch certificates (2.1/2.2 or 3.1 depending on the application) traceable to the spool actually delivered.
- Sealed, moisture-resistant packaging appropriate for long sea passages in a humid steel store.
- Classification matching common shipboard steel grades already on board, so stock does not fragment across too many part numbers.
- Consistent spool sizing that fits the existing welding sets rather than forcing an adapter.
Keep opened spools in a sealed, desiccated container between uses — wire that has absorbed moisture from a humid engine room store is a common, avoidable cause of cracked repair welds found on the next survey.
Models in this type.
The best-documented model of each manufacturer first, then the next — 1 of 1 models in Welding Wire (MIG/MAG). Every row links to full specifications, documents and service notes.
Manufacturers.
All 28 manufacturers with models of Welding Wire (MIG/MAG). Names with a manufacturer page open it; the others open a search across the full library.
All manufacturers in the library- KOBELCO WELDING OF KOREA1
- Lincoln Electric Europe B.V.12
- Lincoln Electric of Canada2
- Meltolit1
- NIPPON STEEL WELDING & ENGINEERING CO.,LTD., Narashino Plant4
- Oerlikon Kaynak Elektrodlari ve Sanayi A.S.3
- Shanghai Atlantic Welding Consumables Co., Ltd1
- THAI KOBELCO WELDING7
- The Lincoln Electric4
- Tianjin Golden Bridge Welding Materials Group Co., Ltd.1
Also in Welding Consumables.
The other equipment types in this category.
Write to us about this model — the answer comes by e-mail.
Name the make and the model and what the job is: a spare, a service call, a second opinion on a data sheet. We answer by e-mail.
No details at hand? A photo of the rating plate or the part is enough — simply attach it to the request.
Questions that come up with this equipment.
Is Welding Wire (MIG/MAG) data free?
Yes. Every model page, every guide and every datasheet for this type is readable without an account. An account adds saved searches and requests, nothing is taken away.
My model is missing — what now?
Send us the nameplate. We identify it by hand, add it to the library, and if you need a part or a service, the request is already on our desk.
Can you source a Welding Wire (MIG/MAG) part?
Yes. Tell us the manufacturer, the model and what you need — a person reads every request and replies by e-mail.