It depends..... In a money no object world where it isn't ever windy I'd say gas every time. But either you get the rubbish disposable bottles that last for about 2 feet of welding, or you have to put up with paying bottle rent which would be expensive if the welder is for occasional use only.
The major disadvantages of flux cored wire are the bright white smoke that comes off it and stops you seeing what the weld is doing. It seems less effective than gas shielding too - like welding with not quite enough gas, and there is a scum on the weld that needs removing after you've finished. It's quite a lot more expensive than normal wire too. The advantage of fluxed wire is it's more effective when there is a bit of wind, and there's no bottle rent.
im asking because i was looking at a lincoln welder at home depot but its flux core wire only its $250 sould i wait and save more money and get a mig better im only using it to do panel replacement on a 65 nova
We constantly get people in our classes who purchase a small wire welder and take it home then complain about the quality of welds. So, I purchased 3 of them and they sit side by side.
1- has .030 flux cored wire
2- has .030 70 s-6 wire and 75/25 mix
3- has .030 70 s-6 wire and CO2
first off, flux cored wire is primarily made for penetrating welds and is made to be used with and without gas depending on the wire type. These machines have high rates of return to the vendor and it's solely because they put FCAW wire in them. The individual in charge of flux core at lincoln electric will even admit it.
RE: weld on a car panel with flux core. just when I had ran out of gas and was thinking of buying a roll of flux core for a car panel. you saved me some money. thanks
Adjusting the wire speed and heat settings will get you the weld you are looking for..
before welding the metal you need to weld you can make a test weld on same welding materials so you can adjust the correct wire speed and heat accordingly. Then when you weld the important piece of work you will have the welder set properly.
"PS do not attempt to weld on a car panel with flux core"
How then do you account for the fact that some people can do this, even if you can't?
I would agree that it is more difficult, but it is by no means impossible. When I started using flux-core I could not weld below 1.6 mm steel with it. With a few months of practice, on and off in spare time, I can now weld below 1.0 mm steel, and I'm still improving.
There are definite technical limits to how low in metal thickness you can get, but a few tests in a school class do not impress people who have already been there, and done it.
I am welding panels on my 1961 Ford consul with gasless wire without any problems,infact i have never welded with gas in my life,as many have said practice practice practice