Rookie welder

[RAINSHADOW]

HOWDY FOLKS: I am across the pond over in the USA (California).
I liked the tone and set up of your forum.
I just dusted off my Northern Tool 135 MIG welder the other day. I have been coaching baseball for the past 11 yrs and never got a chance to start my welding. Have not welded anything in OVER 20 yrs !!
Question: why the change in polarity when going from shielding gas to Flux Core wire ?? I do not get it. Has anyone ever used Flux Core with shielding gas -- if you ran out of regular solid wire ?
I do not know if anyone on this forum is from the US; but any good sources for supplies and gas in the San Diego/Oceanside area of California ??
Going over to my local welding shop this week to pick up some scrap to practice my welds. Going to also set up my outdoor welding table this week. thanks for your help, Randy from Oceanside, CA
PS: previously been paying for welding jobs, but the charges have been going up every year.

 

[shenion]

Welcome from GA

Flux wire needs the polarity change. Hard to explain, probably the same as arc rods; some coatings work better in different polarities. Also the gas is flowing generally in the opposite direction.

There are some flux wires designed to be used with gas. Usually not something usable on hobby MIGs they are 0.045" or larger (most being 0.62").

I get wire at Home Depot. They carry the Lincoln L-56, probably the best MIG wire out there. Have some Hobart from Northern Tools, don't think they have those in CA.

For gasless wire, the Lincoln NR211 is the only one I have heard that is good (Also at HomerD.)

Stay away from no-name wire from places like Harbor Freight (Horror Freight.) It can be unbelievably bad.

On the Clarke I had, the Lincoln tips and shrouds at HomerD fit fine and were cheap. As most small MIGs copy the Tweco torches, the electrodes are the same and shrouds are similar (I have Tweco torches on my big MIG.)

Online, I have used WeldingDepot.com.

 

[RAINSHADOW]

WIRE ROLL ... snap back

Went to put on a wire roll and as soon as I did that the roll ended up like my deep sea fishing line on my open face reel !!!!! What is the secret to not getting a "bird's nest" ???

tx, Randy from Oceanside, CA

 

[Drains]

Went to put on a wire roll and as soon as I did that the roll ended up like my deep sea fishing line on my open face reel !!!!! What is the secret to not getting a "bird's nest" ???

Don't let go of the end of the wire!

 

[Robotstar5]

You've got to keep hold of the wire until it is held by the feed rolls.