why is FLUX bad?

[slow6]

I know people say dont even waste your time with flux-wire welders.
My HF 90amp flux-wire welder works great for my applications.
What is wrong with flux?
Is it worse to have a flux-welder or a Mig using flux wire? Its probably the same
thanks

[zapster]

yes they are the same..
ane theres nothing wrong with a fluxcore machine..

all depends on what your doing...

...zap!

[KRS]

I love mine.... and I'm not bad :)

[76GMC1500]

What's bad about a flux core welder?

You have to clean the slag off the weld when you're done.
Fluxed cored wire costs more.
Not as many alloys can be welded with flux cored wire.

There is nothing wrong with flux cored welding, it has it's applications.

[drivesector]

As everyone said it is not bad and has its applications. I did see the outcome of using flux core on a tube and painting over it. A white powder comes out of it after a while and looks awful. Probably the flux. I wouldn't recommend it for body work. But this is just my opinion of course I'm sure there is a guy with a flux core welder foaming at the mouth right now typing with smoke coming off of his fingers to tell me I'm wrong.

[zapster]

learning learning learning....

pass!
...zap!

[slow6]

is flux as strong as tig/mig?
probably not
because it doesnt penetrate as far
I find mine penetrates far and usually burns through alot of stuff if I'm not extremely careful
Why do you have to clean off the excess slag?
I guess you have to paint over it so it wont rust?
I used to suck but now, I love my machine and my skillz! ;)

[slow6]

I guess the best use for it is because its portable
just use a generator or extension cord or invertor or a battery backup (unlikely).
I hear they are supposed to be the best for windy situations.
Do they have some kind of shielding gas in the wire? that prevents contamination?

[slow6]

Is there any possible way to weld aluminum with my flux-wire welder?
I doubt it
I have this aluminum MIG wire but I dont know if I can use it for anything

My flux-wire welder isnt really a true MIG right?
sorry for all the questions

[Mitch Kelly]

There is nothing intrinsically “wrong” with flux-core welding. As with any technique / method it has it’s pluses and minuses.

On the plus side:
Machines are usually (relatively) inexpensive;
Machines are usually quite portable;
Can be used in draughty places, since there’s no shield gas to be blown away;
Only one consumable is required.

On the minus side:
Consumables are (relatively) expensive,
The selection of consumables for different applications isn’t large;
Machines often lack “features” (due to low cost);
The welds generated often require more cosmetic attention than (e.g.) GMAW/GTAW

You need to balance the pluses and minuses in the context of the work that you intend to do with the kit. You can probably argue there are more elegant ways of doing stuff than flux-core, but if it’s right for you, and you can produce welds of an acceptable strength and quality for the applications you have in mind, why not?

Two pennyworth....

Mitch

[KRS]

is flux as strong as tig/mig?
probably not
because it doesnt penetrate as far
I find mine penetrates far and usually burns through alot of stuff if I'm not extremely careful
Why do you have to clean off the excess slag?
I guess you have to paint over it so it wont rust?
I used to suck but now, I love my machine and my skillz! ;)

Flux can penetrate deeper than mig.

The excess slag serves a purpose of protecting the weld while it cools... it doesn't belong there on a finished product.

You have to paint over any weld on steel to be sure it doesn't rust, not just fluxcore.

Yes, you can weld aluminum with your machine, you just need the conversion kit that includes a new cable sleeve and a gas kit and new wire and feed rollers .... probably not what you want to do though.

[fatguy welding]

Bravo! KRS

[Countryboy45683]

Mig welding alum. with any mig is hard. It has taken me a long time to get used to it. But it can be done.

[mat]

Someone please correct me if im wrong but isn't it the reason they do not have aluminium electrodes for stick welders is because flux dose not provide a good enough cover?or sheilding gas as it melts? probably the same reason why you have to use pure argon or argon/helium mix for aluminium not CO2/argon.just my 2 cents

[enlpck]

Someone please correct me if im wrong but isn't it the reason they do not have aluminium electrodes for stick welders
There are aluminum stick electrodes. It is definately an art to use them, but they do a very good job within their parameters.