0368742881 - ESAB 0.045-1/16 Wire Feed Guide Insert

Smooth Feeding for Better Welds

Every welder knows that a stable arc starts with smooth wire feeding. If your wire is dragging, slipping, or shaving, your weld quality suffers. The ESAB Wear Insert (Part Number 0368742881) is designed to keep your wire feeding smoothly and accurately. Specifically sized for 0.045" to 1/16" wires, this little part does a big job: it guides the wire precisely through your feeder, preventing it from wandering or scraping against the housing. Whether you are running solid MIG wire or heavy flux-core, this insert ensures the wire goes exactly where it needs to go.

Over time, the constant friction of thousands of feet of wire passing through your feeder can cut grooves into your guides. When this happens, you might start noticing erratic wire speeds or the dreaded "burnback" caused by feed hesitation. Replacing your wear insert is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to tune up your welder. This genuine ESAB part is made from hardened material to last longer than generic alternatives, giving you more arc time and less downtime fixing feed jams.

This insert is particularly useful for those running slightly heavier wires, like 1/16", which can be stiffer and harder to guide than thinner gauge wires. The precise internal diameter supports the wire without binding, reducing the load on your drive motor and drive rolls. It fits perfectly into compatible ESAB wire feed units, making maintenance a breeze. You don't need to be a service technician to swap it out—just pop out the old, worn guide and slide this new one in to restore factory-fresh performance.

Don't let a worn-out $20 part ruin a $2000 job. Keep a spare ESAB Wear Insert in your toolbox. It’s the best insurance against bird-nesting and feed issues. Whether you are fabricating in the shop or repairing equipment in the field, reliable wire feeding lets you focus on the puddle, not the machine. Upgrade your maintenance routine with genuine ESAB parts and experience the difference in consistency and reliability.