Welding Tips and Tricks

I'm a fairly experienced mig welder, but I'm totally new to FCAW. I'm having some issues with holes in my flux core welds? It almost looks like the kind of holes you get when your welding GMAW, and have no gas...Im wondering if this is a contamination issue with my work pcs?

Is your polarity correct? MIG is usually DCEN, while FCAW is usually DCEP.

I'm probably stating the obvious, but I know how easy it is to forget to check the way your machine is set, when wire feed feels like "plug and play".

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:Is your polarity correct? MIG is usually DCEN, while FCAW is usually DCEP.

I'm probably stating the obvious, but I know how easy it is to forget to check the way your machine is set, when wire feed feels like "plug and play".

Steve S

Yes, I double checked my machine. And it is set up properly for flux core. Ground is positive, and the gun is negative.

I just got the Lincoln 210 MP. I haven't run flux core much before either but as I used up the roll it came with I found I had to increase my feed speed to get rid of the holes I was getting occasionally while I tested it out.

Are you pulling or pushing the weld?

yamahablue wrote:Are you pulling or pushing the weld?

I'm pushing, it a techniec I was taught by the millwight I trained under about 4 years ago when I started welding..but then I was mig welding..not using flux core.

Backyardmech wrote:

yamahablue wrote:Are you pulling or pushing the weld?

I'm pushing, it a techniec I was taught by the millwight I trained under about 4 years ago when I started welding..but then I was mig welding..not using flux core.

Well start pulling....

AKweldshop wrote:

Backyardmech wrote:

yamahablue wrote:Are you pulling or pushing the weld?

I'm pushing, it a techniec I was taught by the millwight I trained under about 4 years ago when I started welding..but then I was mig welding..not using flux core.

Well start pulling....

I tend to agree with this. Flux-core, like welding 7018, creates a lot of slag. You want the arc-force to push that behind the puddle, rather than ahead of it.

There are times you don't have the option, but when I have a choice, I drag flux-core.


Steve S

That makes total sense, I've adjusted my flux core technique with way better results.

If you are running dual shield (it sounds like you are), watch the gas. I have 25/75 and 95/05 in my shop, and I the guys occasionally screw up and put the wrong tank on.

Excessive porosity sounds like a gas issue. Too much stick out? Not enough pressure? Bad travel angle? But it also sounds like you solved your problem, so good luck!
Gary

Always remember! "If there's slag you drag"

I too am new at FCAW but have years of experience in GMAW and GTAW. The problem I am having is porosity at the end of my weld, especially when welding vertical up. Almost as if the flux isn't shielding the end or slag inclusion is happening. I tried hanging out there and filling the hot crater that is left but it seemed to make it worse. Any help or insight on this is appreciated.

Do you have an adjustable post purge setting? if so, try adjusting it for a longer time.

Heres some Lincoln NR211 .035 on 3/8" plate.

Down flat.

And here's a bunch of vertical up stringers.

Awesome FAST FREEZE DEEP PENETRATION STRINGERS.

Okay John, now you're just showing off...



Looks good, as usual.

Steve S

P.S. I do think you were showing off...

Otto Nobedder wrote:Okay John, now you're just showing off...



Looks good, as usual.

Steve S

P.S. I do think you were showing off...

Ok.
I showed off.

Just gotta shut them haters up who think you can't make pretty welds with regular old Home Depot flux core. (10lb spool.)


Those are the first fcaw-s beads I've ran in a year or 2.

Gotta get practiced up, gotta bunch of outdoor work coming up that would be too time consuming with smaw.

AKweldshop wrote:
Ok.
I showed off.

Just gotta shut them haters up who think you can't make pretty welds with regular old Home Depot flux core. (10lb spool.)

That's perfectly natural. I got compliments on 6013 work on those pump carts.

The result is in the hand, not the wire.

Steve S