Is it me?

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I bought a new Hobart Handler 140, and learning how to weld on my own. Currently I have flux core wire in the machine, and while trying to lay a bead it sputters and sticks then birds nests. Polarity is correct, clean ground, correct amperage, tension on roll good. Last week I went to my brother's (150 mi away) who has a Hobart 135 and uses shielding gas, and with that I have no problem laying a bead. I even tried using the same metal to practice with no luck. I basically duplicated everything with the exception of the gas and solid wire. Any help is appreciated. Thanks
Reply:What size wire and what settings are you using?Do you have the correct tip installed for the size wire you are using (the numbers are written on the side)?90% of the time someone asks "is it me" the answer is yes But 73% of statistics are made up, so maybe it's something else Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MarineScottCurrently I have flux core wire in the machine, and while trying to lay a bead it sputters and sticks then birds nests.
Reply:If you are consistently birds nesting with the feed system on a 140 you're probably running with the roller pressure too tight to start with. They generally don't have the grip to birds nest a lot with out the tension set close to crush. Should slip more than birds nest. Both are bad. A general run down on the most common flux core issues, 1) 1st time users do have problems starting beads, this causes the popping starts from one thing or another. These will get you burnt burrs inside the tips that put drag on the wire and exacerbate wire feed issues. 2) Too tight of roller feed eggs the wire and/or puts little sharp edges on two sides which in turn exacerbates wire feed issues, causes further binding in the tips that have the burnt burrs inside along with the technique problems of the popping pushing starts. 3) Too loose of roller feeds causes slipping which creates chirped up spots on the wire which  in turn exacerbates wire feed issues, causes further binding in the tips that have the burnt burrs inside along with the technique problems of the popping pushing starts. 4) In short problems with flux core is usually a technique/settings issue(s) that will work themselves out with time as the user learns his/her machine and fine tunes the settings. Remember that any of those chirps caused by pushing back and roller slipping are going to show up at the tip ten feet later and be a factor in the next arcing-popping which starts the loop of problems all over again.When it all starts to come together things get better from there."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:The way I set the wire tension on my wire feeders. Pull the trigger on the gun, and run out 4 or 5-inches of wire. Take a gloved hand, and bow the wire to the side a little bit. Then pull the trigger again. If the wire continues to bow to the side and the drive rolls don’t slip. That’s a good sign you have enough tension on the drive rolls. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Cored wire usually runs knurled rollers as well, if you don't have them then it could be contributing to your issues
Reply:All good info. I will review, and double check myself.  Thank you
Reply:With flux core wire you try running the next tip size larger than wire size. E.G. if using 0.030 wire, use a 0.035 tip. This gives a little easier wire feeding and helps alleviate the bird nesting issue. FC wire can be a bit dirtier on the out side than solid core and that dirt can build up enough in the tip to cause feeding issues, so the larger tip size helps with that.
Reply:Here's tips from Miller, http://www.millerwelds.com/resources...cs_mild_steel/Do you have the drive rolls for fluxcore ?