Main differences between MIG and Flux-Core???

[1BADCJ8]

I have MIG welded for some time (mainly stainless) and have recently bought a new MIG/Flux wire feed welder for my garage. I have never used Flux-Core before and I'm wondering what the main differences are? Do you push or pull your pool? Is it a preference thing? Do you run it faster or slower? I assume you have to chip off slag as with Arc Welding?

Most people seem to say that when MIG-ing to push your pool but I've always enjoyed success Pulling it with my Gun more strait up and down. Any way how does this translate to Flux-Core?

Also most everything I have read states that Flux is for a bit thicker applications sighting that you can’t really weld Sheet Metal with it... What if you simply go a little colder and/or perhaps faster?? What is the thinnest gauge that you can weld with Flux-Core in the "real world? I have read no thinner than 20 gauge

I know lots of Questions but I have many. And the guy that said half the fun of getting set up and finding a "routine" that works for you is half the fun was right. Having a jump on it with a little help from some of the fine folks here cant hurt either though.

[MigManiac]

With flux core it is prefered to pull {drag} your pool. And yes you have to chip and clean the slag off. It really isn't meant for sheet metal IMO. And it smokes like a SOB making it hard to see your pool.
The thinnist i would use flux core on is exaust pipe {dont know how thick it is} I wouldnt go any thinner.

[cope]

Remember to change polarity before running flux core.

[chip hayden]

a good rule of thumb is the saying "slag's a drag". which means that any electrode that is a slag-former is designed to be pulled, not pushed. although, many pipewelders will disagree.

[Tim R.]

Flux-core is alot like short curcuit mig. I run 71T-11 its the basic. Its self shielding all position. I use .035 and have welded 1/32''-1/2''(multi. pass). I use a wire wheel on my grinder to remove the slag; works well.

[ZX-10R Urza]

WEll, I've heard the saying "if it has slag, you must drag" Getting the slag off really isn't hard, just so long as you let it cool. Flux core is normally used in an outside enviroment on thicker metals. I've heard it akin to "Mini-stick" which seems about right.

[Eric Carroll]

there is a wire out now called the" twenty gauge" and it lives up to its name you can do some nice stuff with it. Flux core helps somtimes when you are out of position because the flux helps to hold the puddle still just long enough for it to cool and not sag. All the slag and drag rhymes are fun,but it is not true all the time. its a good practice but you cant always "drag" . I push all the time and have never had a problem from it, wire and stick.

[Hobart Expert Darrell]

The other's have given pretty helpful hints such as "When there's slag, you drag".

You run flux-cored wire DCEN (electrode negative). There's quite a bit more penetration with FCAW, that's why it's difficult to work with thinner material and it lends itself towards the thicker material.

One of the benefits of FCAW is its portability and ability to weld in windy climates that you typically wouldn't use a gas shield application in. If you're welding outdoors and it's windy, with gas, you'd have to set-up a wind barrier to keep your shielding gas around the weld puddle. With flux-cored wire, you don't need such a barrier. So, it's easy to carry to an outdoor location without lugging gas bottles (hoses, regulators, etc) around and welding without having to worry about wind blowing your gas away.

The drawbacks are the smoke and clean-up. You do need to remove the slag.

Darrell

[BobJ]

I was looking at hobart bros site, and one type of gasless (GS) is for single pass, and works not bad on galvanising. The 11 suffix (eg E70T11) was okay for multiple pass. I've been using the GS stuff, because that's all local outlet offered. I would like to try the "11" suffix type next time and see difference in multi pass performance.

[Michael Albro]

Hummm , I flux core heavy structual steel and push every bit of it. and drag solid wire when MIG welding. So that slag drag theroy makes no sence at all to me.

Actually I'm using dual shield maybe thats different.
With a XMT 304 and a S-22A feeder

[tonyclifton]

While using my brand new HH140 with flux-core I am not getting slag, at least not enough that needs removal. The weld doesn't look as clean/shiny as MIG but I tried to chip off this ugliness (thinking it was slag) but it wasn't. I am wondering why this is? I'm used to lots of slag coming from using an arc welder.

[SuperchargedS10]

tony. in my experience its not so much slag, but spatter. the small little dots around the weld.

[Roger]

Self shielding fluxcore wire's slag you get welding with HH140 is easily removed with wire brush. Don't need chipping hammer.