MIG vs. Flux Core Welding
- Thread starter CharlieTR
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i use flux core for most things because i don't have to worry about being closed in the shop. if i were welding body panels, then that's another story. if you've been using flux core for a while then you should know your capabilities and appearance quality pretty well. mig will generally allow for less spatter to clean up and no flux coating to chip off. there are spray compounds that i've seen that are supposed to reduce spatter, but i don't know how good they work.
i'm not a welder by trade, but i've got a lot of time using flux core for various projects over the years, and in most cases with clean metal, i'm making welds that when under paint would be hard to tell the difference from mig. i do as much to diminish the appearance quality of the weld and metal when removing the slag with a needle scaler as anything else. i'm an ok welder and with my ability i think that mig will give a slightly better appearance, but it won't magically fix any mistakes made by the welder - it's mainly just less spatter and maybe a slightly smoother surface. if your welds are lumpy and irregular with flux, they'll be the same with mig, you just won't have the spatter and flux to contend with.
i'm not a welder by trade, but i've got a lot of time using flux core for various projects over the years, and in most cases with clean metal, i'm making welds that when under paint would be hard to tell the difference from mig. i do as much to diminish the appearance quality of the weld and metal when removing the slag with a needle scaler as anything else. i'm an ok welder and with my ability i think that mig will give a slightly better appearance, but it won't magically fix any mistakes made by the welder - it's mainly just less spatter and maybe a slightly smoother surface. if your welds are lumpy and irregular with flux, they'll be the same with mig, you just won't have the spatter and flux to contend with.
Thanks all for the great replies!
I was not expecting too learn so much from my simple question.
Flux Core is all I have done and recently decided to spend more time welding.
I really like it and want to get more experience with other processes, and hoping the mig would smooth out the welds a little.
My little machine came with hose, gauge, other items to convert to mig gas. After reading this I might wait until I get a bigger machine. And after seeing Transit's reply, I don't like the idea of taking so much time to convert to gas.
Thanks again!!
I was not expecting too learn so much from my simple question.
Flux Core is all I have done and recently decided to spend more time welding.
I really like it and want to get more experience with other processes, and hoping the mig would smooth out the welds a little.
My little machine came with hose, gauge, other items to convert to mig gas. After reading this I might wait until I get a bigger machine. And after seeing Transit's reply, I don't like the idea of taking so much time to convert to gas.
Thanks again!!
as long as your machine came with the hose and regulator to connect it to gas, then the change is pretty easy. i'm not sure with yours, bt with the two wire feeders i've owned, when you open the side of the machine where you load the spool and feed the wire you will see two heavy gauge wires on terminal posts. you swap the wires to change polarity when switching between gas and gasless.
that's always been one of my pet peeves with those machines. i imagine most people use one or the other, but i like to switch back and forth a lot depending on the task at hand. i'd be willing to spring for the $20-$50 when buying the machine to have them make it with a switch to change from dc- to dc+. the econotig i have includes a selector switch similar to this.
Window Geek
Silver Member
Got it! I was thinking "grill" and a smoker is definitely lower heat.
Charlie, dont let converting put you off. Many try to do things with there "Migs" that is beyond possibilities. You never said that your unit came with all the gas fix-ins. Flux Core only units are no more than a stick welder with a very long rod. However, installing the gas valve and regulator and changing polarity is a snap for a duel unit.
What are the units ratings, amps, duty cycle?
What are the units ratings, amps, duty cycle?
Mark @ Everlast
Advertiser
Transit,
Flux is NOT stick welding with a really long rod. I understand what you mean, but there are MAJOR differences. That's how rumors get started that end up being plain WRONG!
Flux core is a Constant Voltage machine. Without a voltage sensing circuit to constantly compensate wire feeding, you could not even thing of running flux core on Constant current. In wire feeding, the amps are actually controlled by the speed of the wire feeding into the puddle. Some Mig welders actually have an amp value instead of a wire feed speed, but they are essentially the same thing. In stick the voltage varies with the arc length, but current is fairly stable. Its just the opposite with wire feed systems.( I know this is oversimplification, but for a layman's understanding). Changing the length of the wire stickout varies the amps on wire feed systems and affects the burn off rate.
MIG and Flux core are the same type process, only MIG employs Argon, a regulator, and a solenoid circuit. FluxCore does not. Flux core has a flux in a small cavity inside the wire and as the wire melts the flux liquifies and the flux floats up to the top to shield the puddle from the oxidative effects of the atmosphere.
Flux is NOT stick welding with a really long rod. I understand what you mean, but there are MAJOR differences. That's how rumors get started that end up being plain WRONG!
Flux core is a Constant Voltage machine. Without a voltage sensing circuit to constantly compensate wire feeding, you could not even thing of running flux core on Constant current. In wire feeding, the amps are actually controlled by the speed of the wire feeding into the puddle. Some Mig welders actually have an amp value instead of a wire feed speed, but they are essentially the same thing. In stick the voltage varies with the arc length, but current is fairly stable. Its just the opposite with wire feed systems.( I know this is oversimplification, but for a layman's understanding). Changing the length of the wire stickout varies the amps on wire feed systems and affects the burn off rate.
MIG and Flux core are the same type process, only MIG employs Argon, a regulator, and a solenoid circuit. FluxCore does not. Flux core has a flux in a small cavity inside the wire and as the wire melts the flux liquifies and the flux floats up to the top to shield the puddle from the oxidative effects of the atmosphere.
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yomax4
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MIG Welding or GMAW = Metal Inert Gas or Gas Metal Arc Welding.
Flux Core = FCAW or Flux Core Arc Welding. Two different processes. In FCAW you do not use gas and you should not have a whole lot of Slag but you will have a whole lot of Smoke covered welds and Spatter. There few variables in FCAW but dozens in Mig. In FCAW you run it how it runs best. In MIG, You have Short Arc, Spray Arc, Pulsed Arc and Twin Pulsed Arc. If you ever get to the later two, You will be in Welding Heaven..Until then, Arc and Spark till your hearts content.:thumbsup:
Flux Core = FCAW or Flux Core Arc Welding. Two different processes. In FCAW you do not use gas and you should not have a whole lot of Slag but you will have a whole lot of Smoke covered welds and Spatter. There few variables in FCAW but dozens in Mig. In FCAW you run it how it runs best. In MIG, You have Short Arc, Spray Arc, Pulsed Arc and Twin Pulsed Arc. If you ever get to the later two, You will be in Welding Heaven..Until then, Arc and Spark till your hearts content.:thumbsup:
DIXIEDOG
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Except for thin body panels and aluminum I prefer flux core, the anti spatter spray mentioned above will reduce the splatter some but it's not worth the cost in my experience. If I was tackling the job myself I would use the flux core, if your welds are good you can take a grinder to smooth them right up after and it will look great.:thumbsup: The gas will keep you from having to clean slag and it's a little easier to see without all the smoke but if you've got flux core down I wouldn't mess with the gas.
