Beginner flux core welds

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Hi, I'm using a 170 amp HF Mig welder with Lincoln Electric 0.030 flux core from Home Depot on 1/16.  The recommended settings seemed to run too hot as I either went too fast or burned through using Min 2 and 4 so I switched to Min 1 and 3 on the wire speed.  I have been running a few beads in my free time the last few days but these are the best I've gotten because for the most part I didn't trap the slag.  I was using a C pattern.  I was using between 1/4-1/2" CTWD with a work angle of 90 degrees and a drag angle of 10-15 degrees.  I did get a couple prettier ones running cursive e's but I always trapped the slag that way.  While I cleaned the metal with a cup brush on an angle grinder also did where the ground was I think I may need a better ground...I have to keep closer to 1/4" ctwd in order to get a real nice sizzle.  Sometimes the welds start easy..sometimes harder.   Any advice on my technique or settings would be greatly appreciated!
Reply:No helter skelter welds.
Reply:Oops,  I apologize if I posted in the wrong topic!
Reply:I'm not much of an authority to comment on the weld quality, but I never liked flux core wire. I could never get a clean bead and even when you do, the slag doesn't just pop off in a nice piece like stick welding.Flux core does burn hotter then solid wire though. 1/16 will blow through very easily.
Reply:1/16 is way too thin for .030. You have to get so many amps into it just to melt off the wire. If anything, drop your voltage down and then adjust the wire speed all the way down. Now, start a bead. You don't have to move fast. Slowly, very slowly, bring up the wire speed until you get a sizzling sound out of the weld bead. The welder is now set, what is left is angle and hand speed. Flux core can be very forgiving of angle. But it absolutely requires the right speed to get the flux to cover the entire bead. I have to constantly tell myself to slow down.Sent from my HTCONE using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by BrooklynBravestI'm not much of an authority to comment on the weld quality, but I never liked flux core wire. I could never get a clean bead and even when you do, the slag doesn't just pop off in a nice piece like stick welding.Flux core does burn hotter then solid wire though. 1/16 will blow through very easily.
Reply:Is that self shielded or gas shielded you are using?Sent from my HTCONE using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by AdVirMachinaIs that self shielded or gas shielded you are using?Sent from my HTCONE using Tapatalk
Reply:Originally Posted by allenidahoI disagree. I weld with .045 flux core on a daily basis. I always get very clean beads and the slag pops off pretty much exactly the same as stick. Usually. Not always, but usually. The only real difference is the appearance. With stick you usually have a visible bead pattern. With flux core, it tends to be fairly smooth.
Reply:Sorry for the late reply. I use dual shield Esab 710x with the 75/25 Co2 Argon mix gas. The stuff works great. I get clean welds and ample penetration on everything from 1/8" to 1" material. I would show you some pictures but I don't own a functioning camera at the moment. Personally, I have never been a fan of just using innershield flux core. The results you get with a gas shield are so much better.
Reply:Originally Posted by allenidahoPersonally, I have never been a fan of just using innershield flux core. The results you get with a gas shield are so much better.
Reply:How big a machine is needed to run the smallest diameter gas shielded flux core?Jerry30+ yrs Army Infantry & Field Artillery, 25 yrs agoMiller 350LX Tig Runner TA 210, spool gunLincoln 250/250 IdealArcESAB PCM 500i PlasmaKazoo 30"  vert BSKazoo 9x16 horiz BSClausing 12x24 lathe20T Air Press