E71T-11 vs ER70S-6: No Gas vs Gas-Shielded MIG
Gas or no gas, that is the choice. ER70S-6 with shielding gas makes a cleaner, stronger, better-looking weld. E71T-11 with no gas works anywhere, including outdoors in wind. One wins on quality, the other wins on versatility.
Spec Comparison
| Attribute | E71T-11 | ER70S-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Shielding gas required | None (self-shielded) | Yes (75/25 Ar/CO2 or 100% CO2) |
| Wind tolerance | Good, designed for outdoor use | Poor, gas shielding disrupted by wind |
| Spatter | Moderate to high | Low to moderate |
| Slag | Yes, requires cleaning between passes | No slag (silicon islands only) |
| Weld appearance | Rougher, wider bead | Smooth, clean bead |
| Equipment needed | Wire feed welder only | Wire feed welder + gas cylinder + regulator |
| Operating cost | Wire only (higher cost per pound) | Wire + gas (lower wire cost, added gas cost) |
Use E71T-11 when:
You are welding outdoors in windy conditions. You need a portable setup without a gas cylinder. The application is general-purpose or repair work that does not require code-quality welds.
Use ER70S-6 when:
You are welding indoors or in a controlled environment. You want cleaner welds with less post-weld cleanup. The application requires better mechanical properties or appearance. You are doing production welding where gas cost is offset by faster cleanup.
How E71T-11 and ER70S-6 Work Together
This comparison comes up whenever someone asks whether they need a gas bottle. If you weld indoors in a shop with no wind, ER70S-6 with 75/25 gas produces a cleaner, stronger, better-looking weld every time. If you weld outdoors, in the field, or need to move your setup frequently, E71T-11 eliminates the gas bottle entirely. Many farm and ranch welders run E71T-11 exclusively because hauling argon bottles to a fence line is not practical. Production shops almost always run ER70S-6.
Common Mistake With E71T-11
Running E71T-11 with shielding gas, or running ER70S-6 without it. E71T-11 is self-shielded and does not need gas. Adding gas to E71T-11 causes excessive porosity. ER70S-6 requires gas and produces terrible welds without it. Also, do not confuse E71T-11 with E71T-1, which is a gas-shielded flux-core wire.
Where to Buy
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Data sourced from AWS A5.20/A5.20M, AWS A5.18/A5.18M.