welding question
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,711
Likes: 43
From: San Antonio TX
Depends on what you mean. If you mean using MIG wire without the gas, the a lot of sparks and very poor welds. The shielding gas it there not only to shield the weld from reactive elements but also to create a conductive path for the arc. Different metals require different shielding gases just for this reason.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,806
Likes: 3
From: Burlington WI
As long as you use shielding gas you will be welding with the best of them.
The flux in the flux core wire helps shield the molten puddle while it sets.
With hard wire and shielding gas the gas does the job.
The flux in the flux core wire helps shield the molten puddle while it sets.
With hard wire and shielding gas the gas does the job.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 498
From: Chino Hills CA
There is no such thing as a flux core MIG welder. MIG stands for metal inert gas. The inert gas shields the weld so no flux is used. A wire feed welder uses no gas and therefore has to have flux core wire. Some welders can go with or without the bottle. Flux core with gas is redundant, plain wire without gas won't work. My Lincoln .035" flux core wire feed welder can and has done exhaust, frame and body work, and hundreds of patch panels. This is old school compared to Mig and TIG, but a heack of a lot easier than the stick welders, especially on the thin stuff.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 11,874
Likes: 263
From: Arlington Va Current ride 04 vert, previous vettes: 69 vert, 77 resto mod
Originally Posted by JustForFun
what would happen if you used NON-flux core wire in a flux-core mig welder?
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
I know a MoPar muscle guy who does that all the time. He somehow manages to get good welds out of it. I told him he's nuts, but I can't complain too much - he sold me a Clarke 110v wire-feed/gas capable welder for 1/3 the asking price...
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Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 11,872
Likes: 12
From: Waterloo ontario Canada
Originally Posted by jdmick
Out of curiosity I tried some of the flux core wire when my MIG ran out of gas. No comparison. 
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 23,831
Likes: 10
From: Springfield MO
St. Jude Donor '07
Flux core acts like stick WITHOUT blowing holes in everything. At least if you're careful. My 110v Clarke is more than capable of blasting a hole in heavy sheet metal with .035 flux-core wire... 
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 3,472
Likes: 18
From: Lake Ozark, MO
If you don't have gas... the no flux core wil NOT weld. It will not penetrate the material just clump all up on the outside.
I learned the hard way..my welder came with this stuff (didn't have the gas bottle attached). Thought the welder was defective - he was
I learned the hard way..my welder came with this stuff (didn't have the gas bottle attached). Thought the welder was defective - he was