Stocking the consumables
Running out of tips or wire mid-job costs more than the parts. Here's what most small shops keep on the shelf.
Welding
ER70S-6 MIG wire is the general-purpose wire for mild steel. Match the wire size (.030 or .035 in.) to your machine's drive roll and contact tips. Contact tips come in styles for each gun brand (Miller, Tweco, Bernard), so check the style before you order. 7018 rod is the go-to stick electrode for structural steel; keep it dry. 2% lanthanated tungsten works on both AC and DC TIG.
Abrasives
Flap discs blend and finish welds; 40 to 60 grit removes material, 80 to 120 finishes. Thin cut-off wheels (.045 in.) cut fast with less heat. Ceramic 2x72 belts cut hardened steel fast and last longest.
Plasma
Plasma consumables are specific to the torch. Some machines use separate electrodes, nozzles and shields; others use one-piece cartridges. Each listing names the machine and torch it fits.
