I've inherited a few welders from my father, one is a mig, and other is a stick welder. I've only used flux core wire .030, and I'm having trouble learning how to get a nice bead. It seems that I can get good heat penetration, but not as pretty of some of you guys. I've been using flux-core because there's no need to buy gas, but what are you guys using and what techneques/tips can you give me. Any advise would be appreciated.

 

it will never look like tig lol but what you can do to make them look nice is whip the gun a little and it gives it more of a breaded look

 

also the flux core is going to spatter alot more so be ready for that lol wear a long sleve shirt unless you like little shunks of metal burnt in to your skin

 

Yeah, I've burnt holes in a lot of pants and my forarms(only using welding gloves), and anti-spatter spray helps out a lot. Also what is whipping the gun? I think I understand you, but you explain a little further.

 

its something i only did at catapiller when i made buckets like these at cat (i only did them becosue there was no grinding on these welds they carried alot of weight so had to be strong but they also were very noticable so had to look perfect)




basicly as your laying a bead (these are about 2 feet long if not more depending on the spot on the bukcet) you rock the nozzel a little bit back and forth while still moving the gun foward it takes some practice and its a little hard to explain but ill try and find some pics of how the welds look when there done like this

 

and now that wasnt a bucket i made infact its not even a catapiller one its just one from google

 

That's perfect I get what your saying and give it a try/practice, again thanks! I'm just impressed with others mig welds, som look almost like tig.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by aarontrini85 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">also the flux core is going to spatter alot more so be ready for that lol wear a long sleve shirt unless you like little shunks of metal burnt in to your skin </TD></TR></TABLE>

And wear a hat! Don't ask me how I know!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Finest &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">And wear a hat! Don't ask me how I know! </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I've burnt my head also.

 

Ya ive burnt my head,back,neck,arms,hands u name it that **** splatters.

i find getting nice beads like said just rock it in a half moon motion

 

hey
i'm interested in learning to weld and thinking of getting a flux core wire welder for doing my IC pipes and downpipe, what the difference between the wire sizes??
i seen that you can use a 0.30 to 0.35 flux core wire, i'm looking into welding a 2" mild steel tubing for my IC piping and 2.5" the for the DP

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by max23 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey
i'm interested in learning to weld and thinking of getting a flux core wire welder for doing my IC pipes and downpipe, what the difference between the wire sizes??
i seen that you can use a 0.30 to 0.35 flux core wire, i'm looking into welding a 2" mild steel tubing for my IC piping and 2.5" the for the DP </TD></TR></TABLE>

I've been using .030 since I started, and that's probably what you should use. .035 is for heavier metals/guage. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.