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I have attempted (and failed) two welding tests with flux core. One was self shielded wire (they wouldn't tell me what size, type and the machines they tested on all had the numbers on the dials blacked out) on 1/4" mild steel and the other was gas shielded (straight CO2 and again wouldn't tell me what wire size and type) on 3/8" mild steel. The gas shielded one I'm pretty sure I didn't run it hot enough on the horizontal and overhead and the vert up....ugh. With that machine I had the volts at around 26 and wire speed set between 50 and 55 (which is foreign to me considering I learned to MIG weld on a Miller 350P). And with the self shielded I had it set...well around 10:30ish position on the volts and around 12:00 on the wire speed. Flat was great, vert up and overhead...no matter what I did, it looked like s**t. I've never ran flux core before these two tests.Is there that much of a difference between MIG and flux core? I have a D1.1 MIG cert in 3G and 4G and I'm 99% sure I could not do that with flux core. I'm asking because it seems like every single job that is hiring here in the Dallas area is flux core and it's starting to get slightly frustrating actually getting interviews and weld tests and not being able to pass them.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:How much practice do you have with fc ? It just sounds like you need more exposure to the process. And yes, there is a huge difference in my opinion. Farmer2Hobart Champion EliteMiller S-32p 12Lincoln sp175tLincoln 225 ac tombstoneHarris oxy/aceteleneMakita grinders/chopsawHypertherm Powermax 45
Reply:If I were you I would buy some self shielded wire and practice,practice,practice. I don't know who block out the settings on a test even though I understand why they do it but why would they have you testing on something you don't know a lot about? was this school or a test for a job?Lincoln pro core 125 14''chop saw7 inch grinder,2-4.5 inch grinders,electric die grinder.Half inch drillAnd alot of hand tools
Reply:Both were for jobs. It was the first and second time I welded with flux core. I was never taught flux core when I went to school and my school had newer machines. All the mig machines were Miller 350P's.I would love to get some wire but I just moved to Dallas and live in an apartment. I agree that I do need more time with it. The one job said if I could get some "verifiable practice" and show him that, they would let me test again. The way it sounds I'm going to have to pass a flux core test to be able to get that "practice".
Reply:Oh and I did mention that I had no experience with flux core (it's on my resume, put it on the application, and mentioned that during the interview) and they let me test anyways. I assume they thought I could figure it out since I have my D1.1 MIG cert?
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckI have a D1.1 MIG cert in 3G and 4G
Reply:Next time you go to a test, ask (or bring) a piece of scrap metal to dial in your machine. You want a relatively smooth sizzle going. If the machine is within reach, set your voltage at a control number (let's say 26) and keep a hand on the wire speed dial as you run a bead. Adjust it until it's running smoothly. In my opinion, for a setting like "55" on wire speed you should be somewhere closer to 30 on the voltage. Once you get it dialed in you should, generally speaking, be able to run all positions at that setting. You might turn it up for the overhead portion if you have to. Fcaw is pretty easy to learn with a short amount of practice. This is referring to dual shield/co2. Keep in mind, things work differently for different people. Also, for every position except horizontal, try a short weave or side to side motion. With horizontal it's usually easier to run straight beads.
Reply:Originally Posted by TSCGG13Last CWI I talked to when they taught us codes and standards was that D1.1 did not recognize short circuit transfer as a process for code work, due to cold lap. So unless you procedure qual'd each of those...
Reply:It should run just like regular old Mig, except for vertical up! Build a shelf first, then angle the gun straight to the plate or down just a touch. I've taken lots of tests where the gauges had tape over them. Gauges don't mean squat to me, I started out on engine drives. I do what ever the puddle requires. Attached ImagesDont pay any attention to meIm just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckBoth were for jobs. It was the first and second time I welded with flux core. I was never taught flux core when I went to school and my school had newer machines. All the mig machines were Miller 350P's.I would love to get some wire but I just moved to Dallas and live in an apartment. I agree that I do need more time with it. The one job said if I could get some "verifiable practice" and show him that, they would let me test again. The way it sounds I'm going to have to pass a flux core test to be able to get that "practice".
Reply:Originally Posted by BurpeeLemme get this right. You headed to a test for a job knowing it was flux core but had never welded with flux core before ?Maybe take a shot at a pilots license tomorrow.
Reply:Originally Posted by injunctiverelief.......
Reply:Originally Posted by injunctiverelief.....
Reply:Um... wow.... kind of makes you not want to ask for help with anything unless you know everything about anything in the world all ready.
Reply:With no fc experience why would you even consider testing once let alone twice?
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckI understand that. I just mentioned that as a way of saying I know my way around a mig machine, know wire feed speed, voltage, etc.
Reply:It would be a lot easier to give some advice with more info. Might want to keep a notebook in the future with a few different rough parameters written down . It still comes down to many variables to get a good weld but its always good to have a starting point.Last edited by M J D; 03-06-2014 at 07:51 PM.Reason: Changed part of original postMiller xmt304, Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.
Reply:http://www.lincolnelectric.com/asset...P/c3200010.pdfCheck out this link rschrek. Good info!
Reply:Originally Posted by TSCGG13Then how are you certified by the AWS for MIG under D1.1 then?I can understand if you can a plate test through your school, and passed it, but that means you passed a test by your school, not that you are certified by the AWS to D1.1.
Reply:To everyone else who has given relevant advice, I appreciate it. I apologize for my little rant in the comment above this one.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:With slag you drag. Many people make the mistake of pushing like GMAW. Also stickout is really important with sefl shielded flux core. Generally 1/16 self shielded flux core would be 3/4 plus and .045 would be around 3/4 or a bit less. Some specialty wires want as much as an inch and a half. It is important to play around with stickout to find the sweet spot.
Reply:Originally Posted by TSCGG13Last CWI I talked to when they taught us codes and standards was that D1.1 did not recognize short circuit transfer as a process for code work, due to cold lap. So unless you procedure qual'd each of those...
Reply:I got tired of reading the responses on the debate on who's fault it is that you tested with FCAW. First, when you get to the bigger machines, you should know this if you learned on a 350P as the dial is the same as larger power units with digital displays, the dial position doesn't matter. If they blacked out the display, I'm assuming they want you to be able to set a welder without going by what the settings should be. When I was in the factory and had to move around to different positions, each welder had it's own sweet spot that could vary greatly. Second, when I first interviewed at Case plant, they sent me to take the weld test, the test was innershield. FCAW just welds hotter, it's not much different. Innershield is harder to get the hang of because you gotta really get a feel for what you're welding under there. Dualshield is a lot nicer. I also haven't been to a welding test that they haven't given you practice pieces, especially if they are making you set your welder blind. Only time I've had a test like that is when I was testing for the rework welder job, they took the portable welder and messed up all the switches and knobs before they let me take the weld test.
Reply:Pardon my ignorance, but why would a company black out the gauges?MillerMatic 252Miller Xtreme 625Miller Digital Elite
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckThis doesn't pertain to my question but hell, I'll play this time.Here is how I am certified in D1.1. Our instructor has a few friends who are CWI's. He was a Boilermaker for 40 years. Because of this, at the end of the semester one of those CWI's comes into the school shop and bends our coupons for us. We get a chance to get certified in 3G and 4G MIG and 3G, 4G, and 6G stick (6010, 7018) and 6G TIG root, 7018 cover. We weld up 3/8" plates, cut them into test coupons, CWI comes in and bends them and if they pass, he gives us our stamp and certifies us. It's not rocket science. As for how I got the MIG D1.1 certification, I had my 3/8" plates in a vertical position, I put in a root pass using .35 ER70S with C25 gas, did fill passes, and then cap passes. I took a grinder to them, then cut them into test coupons, marked which side was the root and which side was the face, and then handed them to the instructor. And then I took two other 3/8" plates, put them in an overhead position, put in a root pass using .35 ER70s with C25 gas, did fill passes, a cap pass and then took a grinder to them, cut them into coupons, marked them, handed them to my instructor. That Friday the CWI came in and bent them. They didn't break. Any other questions?Self shielded flux core is wire specific different Lincoln LN 232 and LN 233 and ESAB Coreshield 8 all run different and are tough to pass. We are having a problem passing a PQR for co2 shielded 71M Lincoln Outershield. We tested over 800 LU 40 ironworkers to pass 115 welders. The Tappan Zee bridge is having Dockbuilders qualified to splice pipe piles.You have to know what wire it is. Your test is set up to fail.
Reply:I'm pretty sure you mean NR 232 and NR 233...................Coreshield 8 runs SWEEET...........not tough at all to pass with.6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:Originally Posted by rschreckThis doesn't pertain to my question but hell, I'll play this time.Here is how I am certified in D1.1. Our instructor has a few friends who are CWI's. He was a Boilermaker for 40 years. Because of this, at the end of the semester one of those CWI's comes into the school shop and bends our coupons for us. We get a chance to get certified in 3G and 4G MIG and 3G, 4G, and 6G stick (6010, 7018) and 6G TIG root, 7018 cover. We weld up 3/8" plates, cut them into test coupons, CWI comes in and bends them and if they pass, he gives us our stamp and certifies us. It's not rocket science. As for how I got the MIG D1.1 certification, I had my 3/8" plates in a vertical position, I put in a root pass using .35 ER70S with C25 gas, did fill passes, and then cap passes. I took a grinder to them, then cut them into test coupons, marked which side was the root and which side was the face, and then handed them to the instructor. And then I took two other 3/8" plates, put them in an overhead position, put in a root pass using .35 ER70s with C25 gas, did fill passes, a cap pass and then took a grinder to them, cut them into coupons, marked them, handed them to my instructor. That Friday the CWI came in and bent them. They didn't break. Any other questions?
Reply:Meh. So he left out a couple steps for brevity in his rant. I'm sure he did all of those steps. I know I did for my FCAW test, right down to the batch number for the wire, control numbers on the plate, visual inspection of tack up, inspection after root pass, etc etc.Cheating is what my classmate did on his stick test - grinding his test between passes to remove buried slag inclusions, and level out the weld. (SMAW test)MillerMatic 252Miller Xtreme 625Miller Digital Elite
Reply:Originally Posted by DaeyelPardon my ignorance, but why would a company black out the gauges?
Reply:I was picking some stuff up last weekend at the LWS, and I got to talking to this guy. He was asking for a different kind of rod that didn't spatter as much as what he'd been using. I thought this was sorta interesting, so I chimed in (Y'all know me, I can't keep from sticking my oar in sometimes)Anyhow, this guy (pretty young dood) finally got down to the real problem after we'd talked for a bit. He really didn't know how to zero in his machine. Miller Thunderbolt transformer machine.We talked about it, and I lent him some of my wisdon "Start hot, then dial it back"..........................................He said he'd try it, then went on to start a mini rantHe'd been to the Tulsa Welding School, and wasn't real happy about what he'd left with in the way of actual skills. Apparently they never touched on setting up machines for use. He said that all the machines were pre-set in the booths, and you just welded with them. Nobody ever made you dial them in. I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT HE SAID, so don't get yer undies in a bunch.Bottom line, I wouldn't be surprised to find out he was telling the truth. I've seen the products of so-called tech schools, and most are rip offs. I wouldn't be shocked to find out that it extends to some of the welding schools.I would venture a guess that the military programs are probably the best out there. They seem to be able to take raw recruits, and turn them into anything they need in the way of manpower. I've seen some of the educational material for Navy Machinist training, and it's comprehensive and down to earth."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammHe said he'd try it, then went on to start a mini rantHe'd been to the Tulsa Welding School, and wasn't real happy about what he'd left with in the way of actual skills. Apparently they never touched on setting up machines for use. He said that all the machines were pre-set in the booths, and you just welded with them. Nobody ever made you dial them in. I'M JUST REPEATING WHAT HE SAID, so don't get yer undies in a bunch.
Reply:No need for the flux core tips anymore. Found a place that was looking for TIG welders. Crack repair and build up on turbine parts. Super cool job. And the best part, I get to come home clean. So again, thanks. If eventually down the road I start looking for a flux core job, I'll be sure to look for some help here. Last edited by rschreck; 03-08-2014 at 12:04 AM.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:Originally Posted by lotechmanWith slag you drag. Many people make the mistake of pushing like GMAW. Also stickout is really important with sefl shielded flux core. Generally 1/16 self shielded flux core would be 3/4 plus and .045 would be around 3/4 or a bit less. Some specialty wires want as much as an inch and a half. It is important to play around with stickout to find the sweet spot.
Reply:I worked in a shipyard when I first started welding and welded pipe with flux core everyday. All machines are different but that's the hardest part of flux core is setting the machine. You have to have a feel for it then the numbers won't matter. I know welding schedule 80 pipe mostly 6 inch we ran 0.45 dual shield around 27.5 volts and 250-300 wire speed(inches per minute). .052 wire(structure) around 29 volts and 300 wire speed. That's just a general idea of where to be using that wire. Run it on a scrap piece of plate and adjust wire speed until the wire is right above your puddle not pushing in it. The end of wire should be sharp while welding and not having drops coming off the end you shouldn't get too many bb's either. Hope that helps you.Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkUsing Tapatalk |
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发表于 2021-8-31 23:18:28