FlUXCORE WITH GAS

[Whiteyweld]

Hey the place I am working we run gas with fluxcore. I have a Lincoln 180 Mig Welder and was wondering would it hurt anything to run Gas with fluxcore in my welder? I know that usually you are suppose to reverse polarity to run solid wire and gas, but unless the machines at work are special I was wondering if it can be done at home also. I dont want to do anything that would accelerate wear on my machine so if doing this has any adverse effects, then I won't do it. Thanks guys. Just trying to learn more and take care of my equipment.

Whitey

 

[shenion]

That is a different type of wire than the small (0.035) wires. It is designed to be used with gas (either CO2 or 75/25 Ar/CO2).

I think it is called Innershield wire.

You can try running flux wire with gas. Would probably not make a big difference. You will not get as much penetration unless you reverse the polarity.

Will probably not hurt your machine, but will wear tips faster.

If you have run gas, you will hate flux core. Hard to see, hear and it is messy. Then you have to clean up the slag and spatter. It is also more expensive than gas.

The Lincoln 180 is a good machine.

 

[GeorgeB]

It is also more expensive than gas.

I totally disagree (in the UK at least).

 

[shenion]

Nearly twice as much for a roll.

The gas is cheap (notice the location WE both are in).

 

[TechnicAl]

There is gas shielded and gasless flux cored wires. The gas shielded usually runs on the +ve so it can run on a standard MIG set. Problem is 1.2mm is often the smallest diameter, you can get smaller but is quite rare.

 

[backpurge]

Think Shenion is getting mixed up a bit between gasless fluxcore and the normal cored wires that require a gas, and most welders who have welded with cored and bare wire will say that the cored wire generally runs smoother than bare wire

As Al says for normal cored wires you don't need to reverse the polarity but you would struggle with a 180 amp set

 

[aametalmaster]

I like gas fluxcore. I use this .035 wire with my 180 amp mig and C02 but it likes the higher end of the 180 amp and more gas than bare wire...Bob
http://www.inweldcorporation.com/products/product3.aspx?id=71T-1&method=5&useMethod=1
http://www.inweldcorporation.com/datasheets/E71T-1.pdf

 

[arceyered]

We used to use a flux cored wire and gas when we welded Jcb booms they wanted a complete run, the full length of the boom without stop starts. We used to call it dual shield, the flux in the wire was to give the weld a light cover to stop it sucking in contaminates after the gas cover had passed over, we where really powering it in, used to turn your overalls white lol.
Can't see why you would want to use it on low power low deposition rate?

 

[lucasbmx]

ive ran both gas, and flux. use a Lincoln invertech 350 pro at the shop all co2, works great for stick and mig. love gas.
but i use a easy mig at home , with flux core. welds really good ill post some pics in a day or so. and not only does it weld good, but its 250 for the welder. And my friend welds a few times a week, on his, and has had it for years. The wire is expensive, and more work into the welding. but its not as bad as people say it is.