advice from a beginner for beginners, flux core

[kibodwin]

If using flux core wire take the shroud off the mig gun.
You will be better able to see the weld pool and will not get in
the habit of using the shroud as support.
k.

 

[Mikes1670]

Hi & thanks for the tip. I'll try that next time I use flux core. I was put off flux core and have since converted to gas. The reason was I was getting lots of holes in the weld - I think that was caused by the flux getting trapped in the weld somehow - have you had this problem?

 

[Sparkey]

I'm sorry but that doesn't really sound as a good idea guys!
If you would tilt the torch a bit more you will be perfectly able to see the weldpool, and why would it be a bad habit to use the shroud as a support?

If you take the shroud off when you're welding your tip will be exposed and more vulnerable....imagine you touch the workpiece and you will weld the whole thing stuck on your swanneck? (yes that happens!) better to change a knackered shroud or tip than change the swanneck or in worst cases the whole torch!

Hello and welcome Mike!

 

[Mikes1670]

Yeah I see where your coming from Sparkey - best give that one a miss!

 

[kibodwin]

well guess what happened to me recently, I welded the nozzle to the metal I was welding!
I thought it was a good idea as it gave a better view on the weld pool and just made it easier
to see what was going on. I was also under the impression that using the shroud as support
was not the best thing to do, kind of like having a bad habit.... Correct me if this assumption is incorrect...

As for the flux core burning though, I do not honestly know but would assume this would have to do with too much power, again someone with more knowledge would be better able to answer you Mikes.

I personally find that with the amount of smoke produced with flux core it is generally easier
to weld without the shroud, each to their own. I am quite careful not to weld the nozzle to the work piece and have only done this once. Looks like the first bit of help I tried to give back to the community was incorrect!!

 

[Sparkey]

well guess what happened to me recently, I welded the nozzle to the metal I was welding!
I thought it was a good idea as it gave a better view on the weld pool and just made it easier
to see what was going on. I was also under the impression that using the shroud as support
was not the best thing to do, kind of like having a bad habit.... Correct me if this assumption is incorrect...

As for the flux core burning though, I do not honestly know but would assume this would have to do with too much power, again someone with more knowledge would be better able to answer you Mikes.

I personally find that with the amount of smoke produced with flux core it is generally easier
to weld without the shroud, each to their own. I am quite careful not to weld the nozzle to the work piece and have only done this once. Looks like the first bit of help I tried to give back to the community was incorrect!!

Haha, don't worry!! If it works for you!
Why would it be a bad habit to use the shroud for support kibodwin? When i started out welding (MIG) i found it was quite handy to keep my torch steady that way! Besides if your shroud is in a correct state you will have no problems using it for support...Ofcourse when you get more experienced you will not need that much support anymore, but that needs a LOT of practice!
Yeah, the smoke with flux core is horrible....main reason probably why a lot of people switch to gas!

 

[Ragnarok]

i think lincoln actually make an insulator thing that goes on rather than the shroud that is much smaller, might only work on the torch for their little gasless/gas migs though.

 

[keith19]

Kibodwin, you're quite right about removing the shroud when welding with flux core wire. Lots of experienced welders do this. It does help you see the pool better, particularly if working in a restricted place where cranking your helmet right over might not be possible.

You'll only ever stick the torch to the job once or twice, you soon learn to keep it from actually touching the job.
Steadying can be carried out by one hand steadying the other, you don't need the shroud for that.

But as Sparkey says, if using a shroud works for you, that's fine too, there is no hard and fast rule about it. The main thing is to feel comfortable with what you are doing, and tackle it at your own pace.

 

[kibodwin]

I dont know where I heard / read this but was under the impression not to use the shroud as support.
I was welding the inside of a wheel rim and it was quite tight so removing the shroud made sense.
I found that I could see what was going on much better.
I use one hand to steady the one with the torch in it so it is quite steady already. I can understand that if you only use one hand then the shroud can be perfect as support.
Each to their own I suppose.
=)

 

[Engineer1964]

The Flux core i use at work is 1.2mm and i always use the shroud, You need to remember there are different types of Shroud you can use, with the Flux core i do i actually rest the Shroud in the work piece and Pull the Gun as opposed to pushing, I use a shroud with a narrow top so that the gas is forced into the weldpool

These are the 3 types that i use, dependant on what i'm welding

Generally the narow ones are for getting tight into corners and the welder ones are for flat, butt welds etc

 

[Welderpaul]

Smart job there Gerry, and nice looking welds.

 

[Engineer1964]

Smart job there Gerry, and nice looking welds.

Thanks Paul, They say flux core welding is like Stick but with a mig you do get some slag which practically peels off itself, so thats not a problem.

You can get some really good looking and smooth welds, and its not that hard to do to be honest. Some people push, some pull, I prefer pulling as then you can gauge roughly how much weld your laying and also it prevents the shroud making contact with the weld.

Generally when people ask me how i manage to get my welds that smooth i tell them i lick my finger and run it down

 

[keith19]

Best looking welds I've seen with flux core, Gerry.
Those are professional flux core shrouds, are they?
I'll guess you're not using a Clarke EN to get that sort of standard...

 

[Engineer1964]

Best looking welds I've seen with flux core, Gerry.
Those are professional flux core shrouds, are they?
I'll guess you're not using a Clarke EN to get that sort of standard...

Thanks, No i'm using a Hobart 400amp set This type of Flux core is totally different from the gasless flux core for a clarke EN, For starters you use a gas for sheilding, which in this case is simply Argosheild Heavy, and you have the set turned up fairly hot (Makes a lot of Fumes, so ventilation, Important)

Those are just normal shrouds for everyday welding Like i said the narrow ones i think are 13mm opening are for working in corners whereas the larger openings ones are for flat and butt welds

It really is all the little simple things that people tend to forget that make the difference.

 

[kibodwin]

those are very nice welds indeed. Something to aim for in my welding.
I am wondering why you use gas with flux core wire, I thought the whole
point of flux code was that there was no need for gas... am I missing something?
Are there 2 different types of flux core wire?
K.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Yes, The difference is Gasless is designed to work without gas and the wire has a core of flux to make up for this. Flux cored has flux in the certer also but is run with gas and because the wire is so large it can lay down an enormous amount of weld in not a lot of time


will

 

[Sparkey]

Thanks Paul, They say flux core welding is like Stick but with a mig you do get some slag which practically peels off itself, so thats not a problem.

You can get some really good looking and smooth welds, and its not that hard to do to be honest. Some people push, some pull, I prefer pulling as then you can gauge roughly how much weld your laying and also it prevents the shroud making contact with the weld.

Generally when people ask me how i manage to get my welds that smooth i tell them i lick my finger and run it down

Lol! lmao!!! great welds Gerry! very nice indeed!!

 

[Seano]

Gerry please correct me as I am probably wrong but those welds look like spray transfer rather than short circuit....or is that just the nature of flux cored mig....? never had a chance to use it before.

Sean.

 

[Sparkey]

Gerry please correct me as I am probably wrong but those welds look like spray transfer rather than short circuit....or is that just the nature of flux cored mig....? never had a chance to use it before.

Sean.

I guess it is too Sean...if he uses the settings in the pic it would be spray transfer...
But it definitely is some welding porn eh! excellent!