Flux Core vs MIG - best YouTube comparison I've seen

[California]

Here's the most straightforward comparison of Flux Core vs MIG that I've seen.

One important point I haven't seen before - he gets cleaner FC welds, and less splatter to cleanup, using his $2k Miller than he can do with his 110 volt, $175 Titanium.

After cleaning up the smoke, slag, splatter from the FC, (an extra step not needed with MIG) he concludes that the strength of the welds completed with each process is equal.

Good enough for the girls I go with! Actually I'm limited to FC because the shop where I weld is open-air. And I don't mind the extra cleanup of FC, vs the hassle of fetching gas bottles.

 

[Tinhack]

I've been using Flux Core for the last few years on the stuff I do around here. That sure makes the welding cart easier to move around too. (My empty C25 tank sits in the corner of the shop.) I couldn't tell you the wire brand without going out to the shop and looking but it's good stuff. Letting the bead cool down some before touching the slag works best for me. It practically jumps off the weld in long strips and leaves a nice shinny bead. If I'm in a hurry or doing multiple passes, I use my air hammer with a needle scaler. That cleans the weld slag instantly and doesn't take a lot of air pressure to work. Low air pressure leaves no pock marks from the needles.

 

[etpm]

I use flux core when welding in windy conditions and welding on dirty metal. I use gas when welding inside and when I want less spatter and a better looking weld. Fortunately for me I have 2 small Lincoln wire feed welders and a beast of a machine Miller that welds better than I do. I keep flux core in one Lincoln and plain wire in the other. The Miller gets whatever I need. It has a 60% duty cycle at 300 amps. It's truly a beast. All the previous said, I'm still gonna watch the video because I can always learn.
Eric

 

[WranglerX]

I use GMAW exclusively have 8 year old partial demo roll of flux core in drawer (just in case)....

 

[FullMetalBucket]

I picked up a Century FC90 during Covid and started turning bed frames in the attic into little shop stands. I like flux core because it’s pretty easy to learn, no gas needed and I weld outside. Its nice way to get started for a welding noobie like me. Here’s my unit

FC-90 FLUX-CORED WIRE FEED WELDER - Lincoln Electric

 

[super55]

For farm fixes, FC is about all I use but the arc welder does still get its fair share of use. I don't know if this is with all migs but my Lincoln Pro-Mig is is finicky with its wire. I've tried the harbor freight core-flux and the diameter specs must be a little wider because occasionally it will lodge in the cable. Never been an issue with Hobart or Lincoln wire.

 

[WranglerX]

For farm fixes, FC is about all I use but the arc welder does still get its fair share of use. I don't know if this is with all migs but my Lincoln Pro-Mig is is finicky with its wire. I've tried the harbor freight core-flux and the diameter specs must be a little wider because occasionally it will lodge in the cable. Never been an issue with Hobart or Lincoln wire.

Stay away from HF wire.....

 

[rangerfredbob]

Stay away from HF wire.....

Things have changed in the last 15 years... their current wire is fine, I know it's not going to change anyones opinion but I've gone through several spools of their wire over the years, back around 2010 is when the wire was bad and that was mostly what came with the cheap welders and partially because the 100A flux boxes are too hot for .030" wire, I switched to .035" and it was fine with whatever wire I used but got much better when I switched to a true DC machine, and of course now I'm running gas unless I'm camping or something...

 

[TMGT]

If you really want to have a nice weld on heavier material, there's gas shielded flux core wire (dual shield as Lincoln calls it).
We use it a lot at the shop for structural, puts a lot of metal down fast!

 

[1Mech]

I have a reconditioned Craftsman flux core unit. I don't get to use it very often, but it does everything I need to do. It was $99 at Steve's Wholesale many years ago. Only 10% duty cycle, but it will run quite a while before cycling off.