The Lincoln Electric KP1697 Cored Wire Drive Roll Kit delivers reliable, consistent wire feeding for FCAW (Flux-Cored Arc Welding) and cored-wire GMAW processes across a broad range of wire diameters. Engineered for professional fabricators and structural welders, these knurled-groove drive roll kits provide positive traction on tubular cored wires without crushing or deforming the wire sheath — a critical requirement for stable arc performance and consistent deposition in FCAW-G and FCAW-S applications.
Available in seven configurations spanning 0.030 in (0.8 mm) through 3/32 in (2.4 mm), the KP1697 series covers the full spectrum of cored wire diameters used in heavy industrial, structural, and pipe welding. Each kit includes all required drive roll components for a complete, drop-in installation.
- KP1697-035C – Drive Roll Kit for .030–.035 in (0.8–0.9 mm) cored wire
- KP1697-045C – Drive Roll Kit for .040–.045 in (1.0–1.2 mm) cored wire
- KP1697-052C – Drive Roll Kit for .052 in (1.3 mm) cored wire
- KP1697-1/16C – Drive Roll Kit for 1/16 in (1.6 mm) cored wire
- KP1697-068 – Drive Roll Kit for .068–.072 in (1.8 mm) cored wire
- KP1697-5/64 – Drive Roll Kit for 5/64 in (2.0 mm) solid or cored wire
- KP1697-3/32 – Drive Roll Kit for 3/32 in (2.4 mm) solid or cored wire
- Knurled V-groove geometry engineered for positive feed of flux-cored and metal-cored electrodes without wire deformation
- Seven diameter options covering .030 in (0.8 mm) through 3/32 in (2.4 mm) — both imperial and metric sizes
- Kit format includes all drive roll components for complete installation
- Precision-machined rolls minimize wire surface damage, preserving electrode integrity
- Supports both FCAW-G (gas-shielded) and FCAW-S (self-shielded) wire processes
- Larger options (5/64, 3/32) also accommodate solid wire for high-deposition GMAW
- Durable alloy construction for extended service life in production environments
- Structural steel fabrication and heavy plate welding using FCAW
- Shipbuilding and offshore construction with large-diameter cored electrodes
- Pipeline welding and energy sector fabrication
- Production manufacturing with metal-cored wire (GMAW-C)
- Bridge and infrastructure construction requiring high-deposition FCAW
The Lincoln Electric KP1697 series delivers the correct knurled-groove geometry for reliable cored wire feeding in FCAW and GMAW-C applications. Seven configurations spanning .030 in through 3/32 in ensure you can match drive roll to wire diameter precisely, reducing birdnesting and maintaining the stable arc performance that production welding demands.








