Please tell my friend why he shouldn't use a Flux core

[Topcat]

This guy is hard headed.
He thinks he knows everything.

I said he shouldn't use a flux core to butt weld and patch in metal on some rust areas.

Maybe he'll listen to you all instead of me.

I'll send him this thread from your responses.

Thanks.

[AARTA340]

Here is my opinion.    I use to be a certified welder years ago and modern welding techniques have come miles with better methods and welders in general. With shielding gas, it controls the process so complete and almost zero splatter and porosity. Non sheilding mig is alright for heavier metals, but a poor choice for thin sheet metal and especially on restoration work. Butt welds can be difficult with blow through and with better control with gas, just makes it easier.

Here is a link from Kevin at Eastwood, and if you don't want to watch the entire video, go to 6:30 and he covers his opinion with not using flux core on restoration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNmAU3xeCHI

It is a good start for a beginner and I would suggest to your buddy to spend some time with some good welding sites and just watch with an open mind. weld.com is one, as this guy has a bunch of good videos, lots of it is tig, mig and testing different welders and giving an opinion.

I first bought a Lincoln 135 SP and it was equipped with gas. I tired the flux core right out of the box and again, it is OK for heavy material, but the shielding gas is so much smoother puddling and little clean up, other than grind it down smooth. Not near of a chance of porosity with gas either. I use a 75/25 mix of argon and c02. Straight c02 is cheaper, but more splatter.

Research is the key. Good luck 

[Challenger in NC]

This guy is hard headed.
He thinks he knows everything.

I said he shouldn't use a flux core to butt weld and patch in metal on some rust areas.

Maybe he'll listen to you all instead of me.

I'll send him this thread from your responses.

Thanks.

Recently, I was MIG welding a part and noticed the welds were coming out really bad with lots of splatter and the weld wasn't flowing very smoothly. Shortly after, I realized I had forgotten to open the shielding gas valve. 

[moprr]

I am no pro and taught myself.  When I started I used the flux core for everything and got sick of the splatter. Once I switched to gas I got much cleaner welds and no splatter needless to say there is now way I will ever go back.  Like the post above says thin metals are easier with gas.

[Katfish]

Probably a stupid question, can you use flux core and gas?

[Cudakiller70]

Here is my opinion.    I use to be a certified welder years ago and modern welding techniques have come miles with better methods and welders in general. With shielding gas, it controls the process so complete and almost zero splatter and porosity. Non sheilding mig is alright for heavier metals, but a poor choice for thin sheet metal and especially on restoration work. Butt welds can be difficult with blow through and with better control with gas, just makes it easier.

Here is a link from Kevin at Eastwood, and if you don't want to watch the entire video, go to 6:30 and he covers his opinion with not using flux core on restoration.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNmAU3xeCHI

It is a good start for a beginner and I would suggest to your buddy to spend some time with some good welding sites and just watch with an open mind. weld.com is one, as this guy has a bunch of good videos, lots of it is tig, mig and testing different welders and giving an opinion.

I first bought a Lincoln 135 SP and it was equipped with gas. I tired the flux core right out of the box and again, it is OK for heavy material, but the shielding gas is so much smoother puddling and little clean up, other than grind it down smooth. Not near of a chance of porosity with gas either. I use a 75/25 mix of argon and c02. Straight c02 is cheaper, but more splatter.

Research is the key. Good luck 

x 1000

[roadman5312]

Probably a stupid question, can you use flux core and gas?

                 Sure can, but why would you.

[734406pk]

Flux core is done with the electrode (wire) positve. This puts the heat in the base metal making burn through likely, not to mention the high spatter. A better choice would be .023 solid wire EN with C-25 gas (25% argon/75% co2) or equal Stargon etc . Nice and cool, low spatter and concave weld beads... easier to hide in body work. Try a sample panel beforehand and see.

[Topcat]

Flux core is done with the electrode (wire) positve. This puts the heat in the base metal making burn through likely, not to mention the high spatter. A better choice would be .023 solid wire EN with C-25 gas (25% argon/75% co2) or equal Stargon etc . Nice and cool, low spatter and concave weld beads... easier to hide in body work. Try a sample panel beforehand and see.

I sent everybody's thoughts. And he replied he will get somebody else.
Thank God!

I don't want to be the person that turns it into a hack job because I didn't have the right equipment & tools.
His car is in a very wet climate in the Santa Cruz mountains. Rot Ville.

[msbaugh]

Good. We only use MIG flux core when we're at the ranch or farm and it's really windy, even then it's not ideal we use the old Lincoln stick then.  Flux core on sheet metal would m not work well

[734406pk]

I sent everybody's thoughts. And he replied he will get somebody else.
Thank God!

I don't want to be the person that turns it into a hack job because I didn't have the right equipment & tools.
His car is in a very wet climate in the Santa Cruz mountains. Rot Ville.

  Not to mention that flux core spatter does not take paint very well. Save it for steel lawn furniture and field exhaust pipe repair IMO.