Push or Pull

[jessetime]

is there a strength difference or is one needed for different applications i have a harbor freight 90 amp and im trying to get the strongest welds

[Broccoli1]

You only have one choice with a Fluxcore machine like you have-

"Drag with Slag"

[jessetime]

so i can move either way?

[Broccoli1]

Originally Posted by jessetime

so i can move either way?

No, one choice = drag/pull

"Drag with Slag"

Fluxcore creates slag and you have to drag so you leave the slag behind.

If you push, you are pushing in to the slag.

[DSW]

Originally Posted by jessetime

i have a harbor freight 90 amp and im trying to get the strongest welds

Ed is correct that with that machine and FC wire your only choice is to drag the weld.

Not sure what type of projects you want to do, but keep this in mind. That machine is for thin metal only, maybe 14 to 16 ga tops under real world conditions at best. Weld "strength" isn't generally a main concern with sheet metal. If you are trying to weld up thicker material than 14 to 16 ga, you simply will not get strong decent welds with that machine no matter what you do. It simply does not have the power to weld up heavier metal.

[MilitiaMetals]

unless of course you are doing vertical up lol

[Hass]

at the shop I'm at now, we use FCAW like hard wire. Push/pull whatever you want.
We pass RTs, Bends, Charpies, no problem pushing.
ER71T wire... FrontierArc 711 I believe.

I never pushed fluxcore a day in my life until I came here. The foreman asked me if I was pushing or pulling. I'm like... You can't push fluxcore... can you?
He's like sure you can!! who told you you can't?!

Uhh, my school years ago, my previous job, etc... common sense...?
But no, it works great. Gives you the ability to do nice flat well flowing stringers just like regular 70S-6 hard wire. Downside is that you still can't see your puddle very well because a lot of the puddle is the slag/flux... But you get used to it and know what's what.

I still prefer hardwire, but sometimes procedure calls for FCAW.