Gasless flux core

[Bluesman]

I know the welds don't look as good as the gas/mig welds and it seems to burn a little hotter, but other than the welds looking "pastey" and I'm not sure if that is the right term or not, are they as good or strong as the regular gas mig?

Reason I'm asking is that I have been running some in my machine and it seems to be a pretty good weld as far as strength goes but that dull/pastey look and the "white" residue that appears a day or so later on your weld just makes me wonder if it is a "solid" repair or is it just a get by till you can really weld it?

I know that dual shield (flux cored plus gas) is a helluva weld and seems to be stronger and less porous than regular mig but this gasless wire is what I"m asking about right now.

[Bluesman]

I guess I have answered my own question. Apparantly it has to do with the wire I was using. I was using Lincoln Electric wire and believe it or not, it isn't as good as the Blue Demon wire I just put in. The Blue Demon is a more consistant arc with minimal spatter and you get COMPLETE flux coverage.... The Lincoln wire was a little spattery, didn't burn as consistant, and the flux cap was thin, it was complete but was thin and the weld had a grayish white look.

This Blue Demon wire makes a smooth weld and the weld is shiny and clean once you chip the flux off. As far as strength... I think it is stronger than the hard wire with gas. We put a fillet weld on two pieces of 3/16 plate and placed it on the breaker... The metal started fatiguing and breaking but the weld never budged. It was stronger than the steel it was on.

I am pleased and would suggest Blue Demon wire to anyone that needs a high quality gassless flux core wire.

[bhardy501]

I wonder if your flux cored Lincoln wire had some moisture in it or some other type of contaminate. I use Lincoln Flux core in my Miller 130 and it leaves nice clean welds. I have had no issues with this wire. If changing wire fixed your problem I would look at the idea of contaminates or moisture.

[Bluesman]

I wonder if your flux cored Lincoln wire had some moisture in it or some other type of contaminate. I use Lincoln Flux core in my Miller 130 and it leaves nice clean welds. I have had no issues with this wire. If changing wire fixed your problem I would look at the idea of contaminates or moisture.

It could have been, but it was a new roll. Just openned and that is how it was welding out of the package. The Blue Demon wire welded circles around it. BD is cheaper too, or it is down here anyway.

[bhardy501]

I will have to try the Blue Demon. I was wrong about what I currently have on my welder, i used up all the Lincoln and replaced it with Hobart wire. All I could find at the time and I had to have it then.

[Bluesman]

Blue Demon is some good stuff, or at least the roll I have now is for sure.

[arandall]

Thanks for the info. Till now I have never really pid much attention to wkhat brand of wire to use - just what was easily available. I'll pay more attention now - and look for some Blue Demon.

Cheers,
Art R.

[Bluesman]

Here is a link to a thread on WeldingWeb that started out as a welder/wire question and morphed into a LWS AND wire thread that ended up talking about the Blue Demon Flux Core wire. Apparantly I'm not the only one that thinks the arc is stronger, more consistant, and easier to control...

Now I know it isn't just my imagination.twothumbsup

WeldingWeb Thread

[bigred8033]

I've found that fluxcore welds are fairly strong, as long as you don't have to do a second pass. i've learned that if you go back over the top or fill in, the welds tend to get alittle brittle,

[Bluesman]

I've found that fluxcore welds are fairly strong, as long as you don't have to do a second pass. i've learned that if you go back over the top or fill in, the welds tend to get alittle brittle,

I usually try to do everything I do in a single pass unless I'm stick welding and usually will use a 6011 or 6010 and put a 7018 on the top.