Gasless Flux Core Welding Tips, Make Better Cleaner Welds
TLDRIn this video, Mike Festiva explores five different flux core wire brands, comparing their performance in gasless core welding. After testing with a Hynade 140 amp welder, he shares tips for beginners and evaluates each wire's spatter, appearance, and weld quality. The Lincoln and Vulcan wires disappoint with spatter and inconsistent welds, while Forney, Yeswelder, and Hynade impress with cleaner, smoother results. Mike recommends the latter three for better, cleaner welds and provides links for interested viewers.
Takeaways
- 😀 Mike Festiva is testing five different makes and brands of flux core wire to compare their performance in welding.
- 🛠️ He recently purchased a Hynade 140 amp flux core welder from Amazon and found the included flux wire to be of high quality with less spatter.
- 🔍 The video covers tips and techniques for flux core welding, especially useful for beginners.
- 🧵 The tested wires are all .030 in size, including brands like Lincoln, Vulcan, Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade.
- ⚙️ The Hynade welder has a dual voltage feature and auto sets wire speed to voltage, which simplifies the welding process.
- 💡 When welding with flux core wire, a slower travel speed is necessary compared to solid wire and shielding gas.
- 🔌 For flux core welding, the welder should be set to DC electrode negative, different from solid wire welding which is DC electrode positive.
- 📏 It's recommended to have more wire stick out when welding with flux core compared to solid wire, ranging from a quarter to three quarters of an inch.
- 💨 Flux core welding can be more forgiving with rust or dirty metal, but for the best results, clean the weld joints before welding.
- 📉 After testing, the Lincoln and Vulcan wires were found to be less satisfactory, with more spatter and inconsistent weld beads.
- 🏆 The Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade wires performed well, with Forney standing out for its smooth and crisp welding experience.
Q & A
What is the main focus of Mike Festiva's video?
-The main focus of Mike Festiva's video is to test and compare five different makes and brands of flux core wire for gasless flux core welding, providing tips and techniques for those new to the process.
Why did Mike decide to test different flux core wires?
-Mike decided to test different flux core wires after noticing that the Hynade flux wire that came with his new welder produced less spatter and had a shinier appearance compared to other wires he had used before.
What焊s the Hynade 140 amp flux core welder that Mike purchased?
-The Hynade 140 amp flux core welder is notable for its dual voltage capability and auto-setting feature for wire speed based on voltage, which Mike found to weld smoothly and be user-friendly.
Which flux core wires did Mike test in the video?
-Mike tested Lincoln, Vulcan, Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade flux core wires in the video.
What is the significance of the wire's appearance and packaging?
-The appearance and packaging of the wire can indicate its quality; shinier wires might suggest better manufacturing, and vacuum-sealed pouches prevent moisture from affecting the wire's performance.
What is the importance of travel speed when welding with flux core wire?
-When welding with flux core wire, a slower travel speed is necessary because the wire is hollow. This allows for proper weld puddle observation and ensures adequate wire is added for a strong weld.
Why is it important to change the leads on a flux only welder?
-Changing the leads on a flux only welder is crucial because these welders are internally wired as DC electrode negative, which is different from MIG welders for solid wire that are wired as DC electrode positive. Incorrect lead setup can result in poor welding results.
What should the stick out length be when welding with flux core wire?
-The stick out length, or the amount of wire extending from the contact tip, should be longer than when welding with solid wire, typically ranging from a quarter to three-quarters of an inch, with Mike preferring about a half-inch stick out.
What does the saying 'if it's got slag you drag' mean in the context of flux core welding?
-The saying 'if it's got slag you drag' means that when welding with flux core wire, one should always pull the wire (rather than pushing it) to avoid incorporating flux inside the weld, which can cause porosity.
How did Mike evaluate the performance of the different flux core wires?
-Mike evaluated the performance of the flux core wires by observing the welding process, the amount of spatter produced, the ease of cleaning off slag, and the quality of the final weld after cleaning.
What was Mike's final ranking of the flux core wires based on his tests?
-Mike ranked the wires from worst to best as follows: Vulcan, Lincoln, Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade, with Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade being the top three that performed very similarly and were superior to the others.
Outlines
😀 Introduction to Flux Core Wire Testing
In this video, Mike Festiva introduces a comparative test of five different flux core wires. He explains that the purpose of the test is to determine the quality of various brands, as he has noticed differences in spatter and performance. Mike shares his recent purchase of a Hynade 140 amp flux core welder from Amazon and his positive experience with the included flux wire. He lists the five types of wire he has ordered for testing, including Lincoln, Vulcan, Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade, and mentions that he will share his favorite at the end of the video. The video also includes a brief tutorial on flux core welding for beginners, such as the necessity of a slower travel speed and the importance of electrode negative setup for flux-only welders.
🔧 Practical Testing of Flux Core Wires
Mike proceeds with the practical testing of the flux core wires by cutting coupons from 11-gauge steel using his bestarc plasma cutter. He discusses the importance of cutting over a DIY water table for a cleaner workshop environment. The testing begins with the Lincoln wire, and Mike notes its glossy appearance and matte color. He highlights the welder's features, such as dual voltage and auto wire speed setting, and shares tips for flux core welding, including the need for a slower travel speed and the correct setup for electrode negativity. The testing continues with the Vulcan wire, noted for its matte gray color, and then moves on to the Forney wire, which is appreciated for its shiny appearance and label on the outside of the spool.
🚀 In-Depth Analysis of Welding Results
After testing the Forney, Yeswelder, and Hynade wires, Mike discusses the performance of each. He emphasizes the importance of pulling the flux wire to avoid incorporating flux into the weld, which can cause porosity. The video shows the results of the welds before cleaning, with Mike noting the varying amounts of spatter and the quality of the welds. He then describes the process of cleaning the welds with a brush and an angle grinder to assess the final results. Mike finds that the Lincoln wire left the most spatter and was the most expensive, while the Forney, Yeswelder, and Hynade wires performed similarly, with the Forney wire standing out for its smooth operation and crisp welds.
🏆 Ranking and Review of Flux Core Wires
In the final part of the video, Mike ranks the flux core wires from worst to best based on his testing. He finds the Vulcan wire to be the least satisfactory, followed by the Lincoln wire, which was the most expensive and left an inconsistent weld bead with more spatter. Mike then highlights the Forney, Yeswelder, and Hynade wires as being superior, with Forney standing out for its smooth operation and minimal spatter. He also mentions a discount code for Yeswelder and the possibility of a coupon for Hynade, emphasizing the value of these wires and the Hynade 140 amp dual voltage machine, which he praises for its auto-setting feature and consistent performance.
📢 Conclusion and Call to Action
Mike concludes the video by summarizing his findings and reiterating his preferences for the Forney, Yeswelder, and Hynade wires over the Vulcan and Lincoln wires. He encourages viewers to check the links in the description to order the preferred wires and mentions that he will provide any available coupons. Mike also promotes the Hynade 140 amp machine as a valuable tool for flux welding, noting its dual voltage capability and affordability. He ends with a call to action for likes, subscriptions, and comments, thanking viewers for watching and signing off.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Flux Core Wire
💡Spatter
💡Hynade 140 Amp Welder
💡Weld Bead
💡DC Electrode Negative
💡Forney Wire
💡Stick Out
💡Dual Voltage
💡Wire Speed
💡Slag
Highlights
Mike Festiva tests five different makes and brands of flux core wire to determine their quality and performance.
The Hynade 140 amp flux core welder purchased from Amazon is used for the test, noted for its smooth welding and shiny flux wire.
Flux core wire is not created equally; some produce more spatter than others.
Different wire brands tested include Lincoln, Vulcan, Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade.
Flux core welding requires a slower travel speed and careful monitoring of the weld puddle for proper buildup.
For flux core welding, the welder should be set to DC electrode negative for optimal results.
Forney wire is noted for its shiny appearance and comes with a label on the outside of the spool for easy identification.
Increased stick out can lead to increased spatter, but is necessary for flux core welding.
Yes Welder's flux core wire comes in a vacuum-sealed pouch to prevent moisture and maintain wire quality.
A saying in flux welding is 'if it's got slag, you drag,' emphasizing the importance of pulling the wire to avoid porosity.
Flux core welding is more forgiving with rust or dirty metal compared to MIG welding, but cleaning is still recommended.
The Lincoln wire, despite being the most expensive, resulted in the most spatter and an inconsistent weld bead.
Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade wires performed similarly, with Forney standing out for its smooth and crisp welding experience.
The Hynade wire, which came with the welder, impressed with its consistent performance and minimal spatter.
A wire brush and angle grinder are used to clean and evaluate the final weld results.
Vulcan wire is rated as the worst due to its inconsistent weld bead and the most spatter.
The final verdict ranks Forney, Yes Welder, and Hynade as the top three wires, with all others falling behind.
A 10% discount code for Yes Welder is provided, and the video includes a link to the Hynade 140 amp welder for interested viewers.
