S288112-023 - Hobart Fabco 81K2-C 0.045 Flux-Cored Wire 15kg Spool

High-Performance Low Alloy Flux-Cored Wire

The Hobart Fabco 81K2-C is a premium gas-shielded flux-cored wire designed to meet the rigorous demands of heavy industrial fabrication. Engineered specifically for use with 100% CO2 shielding gas, this wire offers a cost-effective solution without compromising on mechanical properties or weldability. It carries the AWS classification E81T1-K2C, indicating its suitability for welding 80,000 psi tensile strength steels while providing excellent impact toughness, even at sub-zero temperatures. This makes it an ideal choice for industries requiring high structural integrity, such as offshore platform construction, shipbuilding, and heavy equipment manufacturing.

One of the standout technical characteristics of the Fabco 81K2-C is its fast-freezing slag system. This formulation allows operators to deposit high-quality welds in all positions—including vertical-up and overhead—with relative ease. The slag supports the molten puddle effectively, preventing sagging and ensuring a flat to slightly convex bead profile that requires minimal grinding. The wire is manufactured to strict tolerances, ensuring consistent feeding and arc stability, which is critical for automated or semi-automated welding environments where downtime must be minimized.

Metallurgically, the wire deposits a low-alloy steel weld metal containing approximately 1.5% Nickel (nominal), which contributes to its superior toughness and crack resistance. It is designed for both single and multiple pass applications, making it versatile for joining plates of varying thicknesses. The use of 100% CO2 not only reduces gas costs but also provides broad, deep penetration profiles that reduce the risk of lack-of-fusion defects in thicker sections. Storage and handling should follow standard low-hydrogen practices to maintain the wire's performance and prevent hydrogen-induced cracking in critical applications.

This 15kg spool is packaged to protect the wire from moisture and environmental contaminants, ensuring that the product arrives ready for immediate use. Whether used for structural steel erection or the fabrication of storage vessels, the Hobart Fabco 81K2-C delivers reliable, code-compliant results that industrial professionals trust.