Another looking for a flux core MIG welder suggestion thread

[California]

What was it that decided you to go to gas?

 

[WinterDeere]

What was it that decided you to go to gas?

I guess several of us on this thread said we started with flux core and switched to gas. For me, it was almost entirely for better visibility. I just couldn't see what I was doing, welding with flux core, due to the massive dark cloud of flux burning off as I'd weld. It would also fog up the glass on my face shield, and I'd be forever cleaning that, or just learning to weld by braille.

By comparison, MIG is clean and clear, you can see exactly what's happening while you work. Less spatter too, which is a nice bonus, but the flux spatter was never a huge deal to clean up.

 

[WranglerX]

What was it that decided you to go to gas?

Hate chipping slag... That is one (of many) reason for abandoning stick.....

 

[IXLR8]

Several of you have made comments about the smoke/fog when using flux core wire. This is causing me to rethink the use of flux core wire. I have enough trouble reading the puddle with these old eyes without dealing with smoke/fog of the flux. I stumbled upon a welding shop here on the peninsula and he told me the place where he gets his gasses from. I thought about using him to take care of the small weld jobs I have. But he is booked 6+ months out. I'm going to stop by the place he suggested this week and see what they offer for gasses and wires. There is an auto parts place here that seems to have everything. I'm going to ask them what they offer, thanks for that idea. My local TSC doesn't do anything with gasses. It might just be easier/cheaper to build up an enclosure and get better with my OA setup.

 

[WinterDeere]

Hate chipping slag... That is one (of many) reason for abandoning stick.....

I always found it oddly satisfying to chip away that mess and reveal a beautiful weld hiding beneath.

 

[California]

A fan on the workbench aimed at the welding table will give you the air circulation you need if you are using unusually smoky FC wire.

And a wire brush wheel, or a needle scaler, can clean up slag between passes.

FC is best considered 'farmer's wire' where a little splatter left behind is NBD. We're not working to the admiration of others! Leave that to the pro's.

Everything I've read says flux core welds are as strong as gas welds. That's my only criteria.

 

[WinterDeere]

A fan on the workbench aimed at the welding table will give you the air circulation you need if you are using unusually smoky FC wire.

Any concern that a fan effective enough to improve visibility might also defeat the purpose and function of the gassified flux?

 

[California]

Any concern that a fan effective enough to improve visibility might also defeat the purpose and function of the gassified flux?

Just a gentle breeze sufficient that you aren't breathing fumes, and sufficient to move the cloud aside. Not a gale.

The flux/slag boils up out of the weld pool to the surface and forms a coating, so the minor air current isn't really relevant.

 

[Jrasband]

I always found it oddly satisfying to chip away that mess and reveal a beautiful weld hiding beneath.

Me too, I like to use a needle scaler which removes slag fast!

 

[ArlyA]

I enjoy building and repairing things, not doing cleanup.

 

[Jrasband]

I enjoy building and repairing things, not doing cleanup.

This is a lot more clean up involved in prepping a repair than cleaning slag.

 

[WinterDeere]

Me too, I like to use a needle scaler which removes slag fast!

Easily my favorite "later in life" tool discovery. I don't think I even heard of a needle scaler until age 30, and even when I first bought one, never imagined how useful they were. There are so many jobs where there's just no acceptable substitute for that tool.

Whether it's removing rust and paint from an old implement, removing badly caked on grass swarf from under a mower deck, or slag from a welder, the needle scaler can get it done as gently or roughly as you need. It helps to have a few in different sizes, if your compressor can support the big'uns.

 

[Jrasband]

Easily my favorite "later in life" tool discovery. I don't think I even heard of a needle scaler until age 30, and even when I first bought one, never imagined how useful they were. There are so many jobs where there's just no acceptable substitute for that tool.

Whether it's removing rust and paint from an old implement, removing badly caked on grass swarf from under a mower deck, or slag from a welder, the needle scaler can get it done as gently or roughly as you need. It helps to have a few in different sizes, if your compressor can support the big'uns.

Yeah me to, I was amazed the first time I used one. So far I have only used it for weld prep and clean up. Don't think I could power a bigger one, My compressor is 29 Gallon, 165 PSI, 5.3 SCFM.=

 

[WinterDeere]

Yeah me to, I was amazed the first time I used one. So far I have only used it for weld prep and clean up. Don't think I could power a bigger one, My compressor is 29 Gallon, 165 PSI, 5.3 SCFM.=

Yeah, they can get pretty thirsty, as the size goes up.

Compressor CFM goes up as pressure drops, and I don't know how much pressure you really need to maintain to keep a needle scaler in it's effective range, but I'd guess at least 60 psi, if not more. So I'd check my compressor's CFM vs. pressure curve, and probably use some number the 60 - 90 psi portion of that curve, in deciding the maximum size needle scaler it can support.

Just like with everything these days, compressor manufacturers play a lot of games with specmanship. They give you the max pressure at low CFM, and the max CFM at low pressure, and very few people understand those two numbers can never occur together. It should really be a law that they say "CFM @ pressure X", maybe even with "X" being some standardized number near 90 psi.