i was given a big tank of argon gas. but i'v used it all..if i switch to flux cord wire. will it be a big difference or will the bead look like crap ?im only gonna be useing it to weld exhaust pipes,intercooloer piping and and some spot welds on my 1/4 panels.


Modified by 93FastLs at 12:04 AM 8/19/2008

 

I've used flux core on my charge pipes and my downpipe when I put it all together. I made sure I kept the copper tip on the welder clean and I also used anti-splatter spray stuff to keep it down. They don't look horrible.

Most of the stuff you find will look terrible because the stuff wasn't prepped before hand and was just thrown together.

If anything why not just go get your tank refilled? It's not that expensive.

 

fluxcore can make some pretty decent welds with good prepwork.

Make sure to clean all the residue afterwards, and you can have some good looking welds! You do get a ton of splatter though

 

you cant use straight argon with flux core...

you have to use Ar/CO2 mix.

and the welds look 100% better when gas is used... i do a lot of flux core where i work... i will get picks of some of the things i have welded eventually..
but it is hard to get pics, since it is a government job, i can get arrested for taking pictures..

 

well the tank i got is a real big tank. about four and a half feet tall. it's about $90 to fill around my way. so. ima just use the flux core. whats the best thing to use to clean and prep with.

 

Jeep guy saying he uses .030 Flux core on his Lincoln 135....not too shabby

 

OT, but I love all the threads that start "I just started welding, I only want to do a downpipe, intercooler piping, and maybe a new manifold"

Some vendor should offer a package of a harbor freight flux core, some mandrel bends, and a hacksaw. "moar powaaaar witz da turbo kitz!"

To the OP, if you take the time to clean up the welds and pipe a little after welding it'll be fine.

 

thats pretty nice... but what do i use to prep and clean the surface before i weld.

 

For flux core you don't have to do much cleaning before. If it looks like that picture above it's more than clean enough. If you are welding mild steel and it has the oil from the mill still on it, or alot of rust, you can use a wire wheel or an abrasive disc. I'm guessing you don't have tons of tools for this sort of thing so I'd say For quick jobs I've found the 3M Roloc wheels in a drill to do a good job with the rust, and just a rag and either acetone or paint thinner, or whatever will clean up a little oil will be fine. You really don't have to get the metall all that clean. The welder will weld right through the mill scale.
Afterwards you can clean off the splattering with either the roloc wheel, a sander (disc or belt) or just run a file over the little ***** of metal that get thrown off. Try it out, you'll see what I mean. It's not hard. Flux core and mig are fairly forgiving. If you think you are spending too much time cleaning the metal, you are.

 

My brother and I use flux core welding right now also for 3" down pipe, some exhaust, and for the flex pipe that we put on the down pipe and the welds came out okish. No where near as good as gas.

But to clean the surface you can use Acetone and wire wheel or steel brush. Thats what we do and it comes out pretty good. Also, make sure your copper head is clean on the welder. And yes, it does splatter a lot so get some of that anti-splatter spray or w/e it is.
And all you really have to do is make sure that your welds penetrated good and that there are no holes. You can always clean it up/make it look better afterwards w/ some kind of grinding wheel or some sanding

Hope this helps you

 

finally got some pics of me and my buddy working on some 3/8" plate in the USS HUE City's laundry room..