I scanned a book on flux welding, here are some of the things I remeber. I still new to welding, but these tips helped me out. Add more and/or correct me if i'm wrong.


1. When flux welding, dont look straight on because flux makes alot of smoke and its hard to see the beed. Look to the side of the gun.

2. flux mig welding is not ideal for doing circular welds

3. Thicker metal is easier to weld.

 

hows the result of flux welding compared to MIG? I like the idea of not using gas

 

Its a little bit sloppier due to the extra splatter, but if you're skilled enough you can make it looks just as good as a weld with gas. Have a good wire brush handy and clean up the weld a little bit once you're done and you'll be good

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EKology &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Its a little bit sloppier due to the extra splatter, but if you're skilled enough you can make it looks just as good as a weld with gas. </TD></TR></TABLE>

sorry boss, i don't think so

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sorry boss, i don't think so</TD></TR></TABLE>

Oh yes you can but the time invested into making them look great would better be put to use with learning another type of welding.

Rich

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

sorry boss, i don't think so</TD></TR></TABLE>

I do, and I've done it, and seen it done. Dial in your wire speed and voltage just right, keep the gun at the right distance, move at a steady pace and voila! Clean welds galore.

 

wow... ok mig isn't all that hard... anyone can weld with mig or flux just dail in your heat so when you lay the beed it's so hot that there isn't much splatter coming off and just keep moving pushing the weld and keep the wire sticking out about 1/8th of an inch from the gun... no splatter is too hot and too much splatter/jumping gun = too cold and poopy weld.

run the wire speed to how fast you can weld with out making the weld look uneven or burn through from going to slow.

 

sorry guys, i've been welding for 3 years. i've used flux wire and it sucks. show me some pictures of these beautiful flux beads and i'll show you pics of gmaw that are 10x nicer. i'm not saying flux can't get the job done i'm just trying to prove a point.

 

flux is great for welding in the outdoors where the gas would be blown away and not effective. you can weld some clean beads with it but nothing close to a argon gas setup. it's not going to be nearly as clean because the argon gas shields the arc and allows a smoother transfer of metal to metal. using flux however you can weld better on unprepped metal, but in all welding it's going to turn out as good as you prepped the weld. some metals like aluminum have to be welded within 15 seconds of cleaning to be professionally certified if i remember correctly.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by EKology &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I do, and I've done it, and seen it done. Dial in your wire speed and voltage just right, keep the gun at the right distance, move at a steady pace and voila! Clean welds galore. </TD></TR></TABLE>

WORD

If you have skills, you can get flux welds to look practically identical to those done with gas. The problem is that you can't really see the weld becuase of the flux residue. But, if you hit it with a grinder with a wire wheel on it -- voila!

Flux-core wire penetrates better, too, especially if you're welding heavily painted or galvanized steel.

Don't get me wrong, I prefer welding with gas, but flux definitely has its place, and can look just as good, at the hands of a competent welder.

As with most things, welding pretty is about 3 things: practice, practice, practice

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by legendboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">sorry guys, i've been welding for 3 years. i've used flux wire and it sucks. show me some pictures of these beautiful flux beads and i'll show you pics of gmaw that are 10x nicer. i'm not saying flux can't get the job done i'm just trying to prove a point.</TD></TR></TABLE>

3 years experience?????? I had 3 years experience before I was in high school. A good welder /operator can make good looking sound welds flux core or not. At tech school I remember using flux core, flux core & shielding gas, and normal MIg welding. I still think some of the best welds are made stick welding. But TIg welding lays down more consistent beauty welds. but, I'm a arc guy at heart.

 

hows my flux? It actually looks better than this in person but oh well I'm still new.




Modified by 89civicdx at 9:19 PM 8/16/2004

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Thinkmoto &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
but, I'm a arc guy at heart. </TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm a big fan of arc welding, especially when doing ironwork. It's a lot of fun experimenting with different electrodes

 

O_o I actually done practice 10 welds in my life! With my Craftsmen Wire Feeder Flux Core.... No Gas.

I ran over a BIG chunk of cement on the road and it busted a hole in my oil pan! Wasnt good.... But overall, I gave it a shot to save money and re weld the hole back shut and putted some skid plated on it....also..

The results? ****! More then impressed! I see i got the beads going! Clean it off with a metal brush and like above mention.. "Viola! looks damn gOod!"

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 89civicdx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hows my flux? It actually looks better than this in person but oh well I'm still new.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
mine flux welding getting pretty close to that....my first time welding

 

Flux-cored + Shielding gas = Deeper penetration + Reduced Spatter

I did this work on the rear-end of my fifty-five.

http://www.fab-forum.com/forum...&PN=1

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 10-94-55 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Flux-cored + Shielding gas = Deeper penetration + Reduced Spatter

I did this work on the rear-end of my fifty-five.

http://www.fab-forum.com/forum...&PN=1







</TD></TR></TABLE>


how thick is that metal? thats a great looking weld compared to mine. what welder do you have?

Nick

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Sinner &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
how thick is that metal? thats a great looking weld compared to mine. what welder do you have?

Nick</TD></TR></TABLE>

Axle tubing - 3/8"
Gear carrier - 1/2" +

I beveled the spring perch mounts and then I welded three stringer beads (overlapped on top and bottom of base weld) for each weld and then went over all three with a weave pattern.



Lincoln Electric Weldpack 3200 HD (Home Depot $300).



http://www.fab-forum.com/forum...&PN=1

 

bump for tips/hints on flux mig

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 89civicdx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hows my flux? It actually looks better than this in person but oh well I'm still new.




Modified by 89civicdx at 9:19 PM 8/16/2004</TD></TR></TABLE>

That looks awesome, I like it.

 

If your welds look like that first time... i might as well give up ,, i burnt threw exaust pip my first time

 

sorry for reviving this but i just cannot get the halfmoon effect on my welds, they get all blotchy and ****. any tips?

 

Turn up the heat.

 

stay in one spot then move a little bit and hold it or stay in a spot and circle over and repeat.

 

I got this video that came with my welder that said something about back stepping. Is back stepping when your puddle is about to dry you go back into it? Or you just keep moving back and forth? Can someone explain which is better.