can i use flux core in my mig

[txargyll]

hi, i have a Ferm 100 which is a gas mig but i want to use flux core with it, but there is no way to reverse the polarity so my question is, is it ok to use flux core in a mig that the polarity cannot be changed on.

Reason im asking is that im just starting out and loving it...... i have 2 welders, neither are top class but they both stick metal together so im happy learning on them, however one is a kende 105f flux core welder (no gas) and the other the Ferm 100 gas model (i dont have gas for it) anyway i dont need 2 so will probably sell one after a bit of playing, both seem ok welders to me but i was not sure if i could use flux core wire in the Ferm 100.

The kende cost me only 40 quid with flux core......... was a bit crappy but after i changed the earth clamp to a 400amp clip with copper in the bite it welds pretty well (not so good on the 2mm sheets) the Ferm was a find while dropping off some stuff at the dump, i took it home and replaced the earth clamp as before, put new swan on it, tip and shroud, it now welds pretty good two, yet to run direct comparisons but bascially they appear the same to me but the question over the flux core in a mig that cannot have polarity reversed is bothering me..........

can you offer advice.......... without slagging off the welders themselves, i do intend to get myself a clarke 105en or a mig a bit bigger, gas capable range 35 to 130 ish soon as funds allow.

thanks

 

[BrokenBiker]

yea it can be done, but you have to do a bit of digging and trace the wires back to the primary, and swap them there. Might be fiddly. As far as I can tell, if you don't change the polarity you just get more spatter, some people however have found that the spatter is less on the wrong polarity.

 

[cumbriasteve]

Just give it a go without changing polarity, you won't damage anything and may find it ok, don't forget though you will need to match the rollers and tip to the gasless wire.

Re: the new welder, save up a bit more and get the 135 or 150, you will probably find the 105 a bit limiting when your interest grows and you want to start sticking thicker stuff together.

 

[Richard07]

Ive used flux core with the polarity set both ways and didnt notice any difference at all.

 

[norlander]

As the others have said-go for it-I forgot to change pol on mine and did not notice any difference-I thinke there is one theory that penetration is improved a bit with flux core if you can change pol but I might have imagined reading that.Get some 1mm tips so you don't jam the wire up, also, if your torch/gun has the universal fittings, get a GYS gasless shroud kit-weldequip proably sells em.

 

[Rig Pig]

It can be be done but a gas shield is much better, you can get pure CO2 fairly cheaply from pub suppliers ( or a friendly local! ), not as good as argon mix but very cost effective.You will find it's a lot easier to weld with and the wire is cheaper as well.

 

[txargyll]

thanks for the quick replies........ im definitely sticking metal together, i will post pics soon to show how i have improved both myself and the welder, great forum, love welding. Wish i had tried this years ago, reckon i may have missed my vocation. I will try and trace the wires back and see if its an easy swap over as my reading would suggest polarity change is warranted, but i must be able to make it an easy switch over as this welder does take gas so i dont want to limit it to flux core only.

I was getting the wire sticking on 0.8 tips so have ordered the correct size 1.0 tips for the wire but the roller (swapped over) goes only to 0.8 for this welder, the flux wire im using is 0.8, is the roller ok for this or do i need 1.0 to match the tip? Which might not be so easy to find for this welder as i believe Ferm no longer exist, Sealey looks very similar though so i could try one of those.

 

[Richard07]

Match your roller to your wire size.

 

[Richard07]

I thought you could only get 0.9 in flux core, im probably wrong but thats all i could find. I use over sized tips any way, 0.8 wire with 1.0 tips, i find it works better that way, with just pure co2 i never have any problems that way.

 

[Dimitri De Spiegeleer]

flux core exists in a wide variety of diameters.
I've personally used up to 2mm, but I believe there is one manufacturer that makes them even bigger.
Mind though, you need a big boy to weld those, amps go way over 350.

 

[TechnicAl]

Different brands perform differently so some will work on both poles even when they say they don't. Its easier to use FCW on the wrong pole than solid wire. You could also use gas shielded FCW.