New Hobart Self-Shielded Flux-Cored Wires Offer Robust Mechanical Properties

TROY, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hobart Brothers LLC has announced the availability of two new self-shielded flux-cored wires designed to be “out-of-box” solutions that ensure consistently robust mechanical properties within a wide range of heat inputs. The Fabshield^® FE80 and Fabshield FE81 wires offer the weldability of lower-strength wires while providing the tensile strength, yield strength and elongation properties needed for more critical applications.

Hobart formulated the wires for welding ASTM A913 Grade 65 steel used for moment and column splice connections in structural steel erection and American Welding Society (AWS) D1.8 Demand Critical welds in seismic applications. They are also suitable for welding ASTM A572 Grade 65 steel and for general manufacturing and bridge fabrication.

Both the Fabshield FE80 and Fabshield FE81 wires provide a low-hydrogen weld deposit of less than 8ml per 100 grams of weldment, which can help eliminate the need for preheating in some applications. The wires also offer high-impact strengths at low temperatures (exceeding the AWS specs for Charpy V-Notch impact values) to help them resist weld cracking in severe conditions. They are usable for single or multi-pass welding and have excellent slag removal to reduce post-weld cleanup and increase productivity. The wires deliver the weldability of lower strength (70 ksi wires) and meet the 80 ksi tensile strength requirements for Grade 65 materials.

“The Fabshield FE80 and FE81 are unlike any other wires in the marketplace. We specifically formulated them to provide excellent mechanical properties, with the added advantage of reducing or eliminating preheating as a direct result of the H8, low-hydrogen properties,” said Jonathan Will, market segment manager at Hobart. “That means our customers can spend more time welding to improve their productivity while also having the peace of mind that they have quality welds.”

The Fabshield FE80 wire (AWS E80T6-G-H8) is designed for flat and horizontal welding and is available in 3/32-inch (2.4mm) diameter in 25-pound vacuum-packed spools or 50-pound coils. The wire operates on Direct Current Electrode Positive (DCEP) and offers a deposition rate between 10.4 and 20 pounds per hour, depending on the amperage and voltage settings.

The Fabshield FE81 wire (AWS E81T8-G-H8) is usable in all positions for welding with Direct Current Electrode Negative (DCEN) and offers a deposition rate of 4.8 to 12.5 pounds per hour, according to specific amperage and voltage settings. Hobart offers the Fabshield FE81 wire in 5/64-inch (2.0mm) diameter in 25-pound vacuum-packed spools.

About Hobart Brothers LLC
Hobart Brothers LLC, headquartered in Troy, Ohio, is a leading manufacturer of the innovative Hobart^® brand of filler metals, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. The ITW Welding brand portfolio also includes Miller^® branded welding and cutting equipment.

For more information, visit the Hobart Brothers LLC website at HobartBrothers.com, call 1-800-424-1543, fax [phone], email [e-mail] or write Hobart Brothers, 101 Trade Square East, Troy, OH 45373.