flux or solid???

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is there an easy way to tell if a spool of wire is flux core or solid? someone gave me a 3 lb spool of .030 wire but it has no label on it. It is wrapped in oil paper and the wire is silver in color. The firepower .030 solid wire I normally use is copper in color hence why I'm questioning this stuff.
Reply:Snip off a piece and look at the cross section of the cut end.  If it is solid you will see nothing but metal color across the cut.  If it is flux core, you will be able to see the flux stratum in the center.Check the wire with a magnet to make sure it is steel (and not aluminum).
Reply:Originally Posted by walkerweldSnip off a piece and look at the cross section of the cut end.  If it is solid you will see nothing but metal color across the cut.  If it is flux core, you will be able to see the flux stratum in the center.Check the wire with a magnet to make sure it is steel (and not aluminum).
Reply:I'll add one, solid wire bends and has spring to it.Flux core often snaps off when bent too far.Found that out trying to hang a part to paint - I often use mig wire scraps - flux wire just kept breaking.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:Ok, thanks guys, I will try the snip test. I know it isn't aluminum and I don't think it's stainless.Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:Take a piece of suspected core wire and bend it into a Z then crank it twisting the wire.  The joining seam that holds the flux or metal particles will start to open.