Why Gas Shielded Fluxcore?

[Holland501]

I understand the concept of fluxcored wire. I've used it several times with great results. Love the light slag, you can almost brush it away.
The other day I was offered(as in FREE) a roll of fluxcored wire. While looking at the box I noticed that it was to be used with shielding gas. It said Argon/Argon Rich. Whats the point of fluxcore if you still need gas? The product was Lincoln UltraCore. Is it just for some special applications? Can it be used w/o gas? Thanks for looking.

[K D Redd]

Never heard of this. May be special. I would check Lincolns website and ask you question.

Kent

[hurst01]

The gas shielded flux core wire will give a better looking weld and a bit cleaner than using it without gas. I have been a certified welder for over 35 years now and bought one of the Lincoln Weld-Pak welders several years ago for smaller and lighter jobs. I find it to be transported easily and does anything I need to do within reason on steels up to 5/16" and if careful I can go up to 3/8" with it.
When I first bought it, it didn't have the gas kit installed and I didn't have an extra tank small enough to move around with it.
I fired that little sucker up using the flux core wire that came with it. I welded about an inch, turned the welder off and threw the flux core wire in the nearest trash can and went to buy a small argon tank to accompany the welder. If your welder is equipped for use with argon, you are way ahead to use it rather than the flux core wire. I can weld automotive metal with mine just about as quick as I want to whereas the flux core blows it away. I have been known to weld .030" steel with mine. It is just a cheap Lincoln Weld-Pak 100 230v.
I realize this is not what you were asking, but for the quality of the weld, I ask the same question. Why flux core wire?

Ed

[Sky]

I have found it not to be the quality of the weld so much as splatter. Which makes the most neat bead look ugly...But if you can live with it.

[OTTO-Sawyer]

I'm by no means an expert welder, but I have done a fair amount of arc welding years ago, and still do some light welding with a torch once in a while. I bought a small Century wire feed welder maybe 15-20 years ago when the motor ripped loose from my air compressor. The mounting plate was still bolted down solid with a good sized chunk of the motor casing attatched to it that had ripped out of the housing. New motor was in the $300.00 range, and the wire feed welder was roughly the same price. I bought the welder and welded the case back together on the air compressor motor. I figured the motor was already junk anyway, so I couldn't hurt it anymore than it already was. I held the piece in place with a couple hose clamps, laid a bead around it, and now have a working air compressor again and a new welder without having to buy a new motor... After that about the only thing I welded was a couple sets of exhaust pipes making up my own dual exhaust for the 37 Ford and one of my 69 Firebirds. Wire feeds work real good on exhaust pipe.

I don't do enough welding at the moment to upgrade with the gas conversion kit, and don't know if it is even available for my welder anymore, but I would still like to get the conversion kit sometime just to have it. If I understand it right, the flux core works better if you're welding outside where there is a breeze that would blow away your shielding gas, and is a little more forgiving on wire feed rates if you're feeding it too fast and extending too far out from the tip.

I did a quick search on the Lincoln UltraCore and found that it was originaly made for Owen Steel Company. They do a lot of fabrication work and skyscraper building. The UltraCore allows the wire to stick out as much as 1 3/4" with high wire feed giving them higher deposition rates and better arc control.

Might be good for "Beginner" welders even with a true MIG welder using the gas until they get familiar with the wire feed controls. I know I had trouble with mine trying to get it dialed in at first. If the wire sticks out farther than the shielding gas, that flux core can save you from having a bad weld, especially if you're welding outside or in front of a fan.

[jht1057]

The answer to your question is yes, it can be used with out gas satisfactorily.
Gas used with a fluxcored wire will not only give a cleaner weld, but it will also give a hotter weld, hotter means better penetration. I have found that most portable welders will actually gain a full heat range by using cored wire with gas.

[azdieselman]

I disagree, I use ULTRACORE everyday. I use 71C, made to be used with straight CO2. The info from Lincoln says for use with a shielding gas. This type of wire is often called DUAL SHIELD. It is not the same as MIG wire/welding. A small bottle of Argon or Argon/CO2 will make it weld much better, especially out of position.

[D Booher]

duel shield is what it is called, and if you have enough of a machine you can do ALOT of welding in a short period of time. there awesome when it comes to welding really thick and heavy steel. very good penetration and a beautiful finish. there very touchy to get tuned, but when you get it just set back and let it burn!

[Ray Freeman]

Gasless flux cored wire is called Inner shield and runs wire negative.Flux cored wire used with gas is known as outer shield and runs wire positive.No good trying to run it without gas. There are lots of different outer shield wires for different purposes.I use it a lot for laying down a lot of metal quickly. It has all but no splatter.

[Holland501]

Thanks to everyone who answered and to those who just looked. I've got solid wire that I use, with gas ofcourse, as well as gasless fluxcore. It's just that when someone offers you FREE wire, my ears perk up.
Since I don't build battleships or skyscrapers, I think I'll pass. Why waste the gas if you still have flux to clean up. Thanks Again.

[aametalmaster]

Take the wire. Never turn down anything for free. Ebay it or sell it here. I was looking at gas fluxcore to play with and some of it is 9 bucks a lb. I am like you why use it if it still needs gas. But i got a small roll cheap and man does that stuff weld nice. I can weld thicker parts also. When i worked in the big shop i welded 3" thick plate almost everyday with it...Bob

[Holland501]

I hear you. Free is usually good, but as hobby/small project kind of guy, I already have enough solid wire to last me for a couple of years. I don't like to be greedy, it never works to my advantage. I'll leave that cored wire to those that can make better use of it. Thanks again to everyone.