Newbie just started welding, any tips with flux core welding?

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Hello, I just bought a Blue Hawk Mig/Flux 100 120-Volt from Lowes the other day. Never welded before but just started at a mechanic shop (only 17 though so can't do any welding yet) and I bought the welder for multiple things but mainly car work. I'm sure a little welder (especially using Flux sense most people seem to hate it) seems like it would be pretty bad, but from what I can tell it works.. really good. I made a little video about the welder and me doing some welding with it, running .30 Flux Core by Lincoln (I also have .35) and what I really love about this welder is how it can do multiple steels and aluminum.So besides saying "get rid of Flux" or something along thoughs lines, I would love some tips from alot of you more experienced welders out there about Flux. Thanks!Last edited by beastlikethat1; 07-02-2015 at 12:04 PM.
Reply:Welcome to the wonderful world of welding! I have the HF version of that and it works fine. You can inform anyone who has a problem with fluxcore that Caterpillar welds all of their equipment with fluxcore so if it's good enough for excavators it's good enough for just about anything. One suggestion is to change out the ground clamp for a real ground clamp. Also wait for the weld puddle to form before beginning to move the gun and move it way slower so that you stay on the leading edge of the puddle without out running it. Other than that just keep practicing. It take a lot of practice to get good at welding.My "collection":Homemade Stick WelderVictor O/A TorchAC 225Ideal Arc 250HF 90 Amp Flux CoreHF Mig 170Solar 2020 Plasma CutterPower i-Mig 140EHarris O/A torchHF Dual Mig 131140STAlpha Tig 200x
Reply:This is exactly how I and many others got started. There are some great YouTube vids that will help you out (Weldingtipsandtricks, chucke2009, etc). Practice a bunch and find every excuse you can to make projects. Stick with it!
Reply:@ Ian P - who says Caterpillar welds all of their equipment with flux core?  Do you weld for CAT? My brother is a lead welder at CAT.  They phased out FCAW-G at the factory in the MidWest long ago.  Now, they only run glob/spray transfer with 90/10 and .052 & 1/16" solid wire.  Mostly Lincoln rigs, but he's welding with a Miller setup. "Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:I think you would be surprised what is built in this country with self shielded flux core wire. Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by ManoKai@ Ian P - who says Caterpillar welds all of their equipment with flux core?  Do you weld for CAT? My brother is a lead welder at CAT.  They phased out FCAW-G at the factory in the MidWest long ago.  Now, they only run glob/spray transfer with 90/10 and .052 & 1/16" solid wire.  Mostly Lincoln rigs, but he's welding with a Miller setup.
Reply:@ CEP - never said FCAW-G wasn't used anywhere. Just not at CAT in the MidWest. Totally track'n with you that both FCAW-S/G are currently used and have been used extensively.@ Ian P - recall what year the rep told you about FCAW-S/G being used for all there equipment?  Pre-2008? Recently?Last edited by ManoKai; 07-02-2015 at 07:00 PM."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:Originally Posted by ManoKai@ CEP - never said FCAW-G wasn't used anywhere. Just not at CAT in the MidWest. Totally track'n with you that both FCAW-S/G are currently used and have been used extensively.
Reply:Flux core @ Cat? Nope.REAL TRUCKS DON'T HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Reply:Dragging the gun as opposed to pushing works best for flux core.No way that welder will weld aluminum.You're probably gonna have difficulties if you're welding car body panels. My first welding experience 15 years ago was trying to weld 20 gauge sheet metal body panels with flux core. Was a disaster until I switched to gas and solid wire.Practice on slightly thicker stuff (thicker for that welder, I mean), maybe 14 gauge to 1/8". You should be able to weld stuff around the house with those thicknesses and get decent results.Also I don't weld a whole lot with self shielded flux core, but I hear its very bad to breathe the fumes in enclosed areas. Make sure you always have a lot of ventilation, preferably a real flow of air through your work area.Last edited by Jieve; 07-02-2015 at 09:24 PM.
Reply:You made a mistake,in short you bought the wrong rig.
Reply:Originally Posted by beastlikethat1So besides saying "get rid of Flux" or something along thoughs lines, I would love some tips from alot of you more experienced welders out there about Flux. Thanks!
Reply:With 100 amps, I would stay with the .030. As for flux core, if you learn to use it-it will work for hobby work. I use it when I have to weld outside and don't want to set up wind  breaks. As for welding aluminum, I don't think you can do it with that machine. I seriously doubt you can get aluminum wire to feed though that gun. And, if you do you will melt that tip! IMO!Last edited by 'Stang; 07-18-2015 at 01:12 AM.
Reply:If you are going to post questions on THIS forum asking for help, then you better be able to check back in sooner than 3-4 weeks later. This is a more active site than most you run across.
Reply:Originally Posted by BistineauIf you are going to post questions on THIS forum asking for help, then you better be able to check back in sooner than 3-4 weeks later. This is a more active site than most you run across.