Need some pointers running ESAB Coreshield 8...

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I've been practicing my innershield welding with the ultimate goal of getting AWS certified on vertical/overhead through my local's school.I had been practicing with Hobart Fabshield 21B in .045, 1/16 and 5/64's. After some practice I was able to produce some very clean/consistent welding with this wire. Then I found out that the school tests on ESAB Coreshield 8. So I got a roll of 1/16 and I'm struggling quite a bit with my vertical welding. I've found the the only way I can burn it clean and smooth is on high heat, and after 2 passes I have a 1/2 fillet plate glowing. If I tap the slag after welding it falls right off so I don't think I'm too far off in terms of form, but I'm just worried about all the heat I'm putting in. And damn does this stuff bug me when I wire wheel brush it!Any thoughts/pointers?ThanksMatt
Reply:What I can tell you is voltage and wire speed are supremely critical. A 1/2 volt change can make all the difference.
Reply:Oh absolutely. I'm just a little discouraged because even when I get it smooth, it doesn't give me a stacked look like the fabshield or traditional stick would. I'll try to get some pictures/numbers on here tonight.
Reply:It will not look like other welds it is unique. It like small movements only, no big weaves. It is a fast freeze to if you get out of the puddle your will trap slag. Pics of finished welds and crosscut sections of welds would help.Machine settings too.
Reply:Ok, I just ran a few passes on some scrap. Here's what I came up with:The bottom pass is at 20.6 volts/125 ipm, the top is 20.3/125Just an image on my slag and heat mark on a new passSame thing. As you can see the plate is getting warmThese are the previous two passes. The bottom pass is 20.3v/132ipm. The top is 20.3v/140ipmA full pass on the first sideFull pass at 20.3v/140ipm (guess where i decided that my hand was getting hot and I had to move?)Let me know what you see, all welds were using 3/4" stickout. I know my hand movement is far from perfect but hey at least I can easily adjust the machine settings ThanksLast edited by BlueArc; 07-28-2011 at 06:38 PM.
Reply:Any suggestions/critiques are welcome
Reply:The progression speed it too fast and erratic. Slow down never leave the puddle
Reply:That esab core 8 wire is freaking junk.  Its hard as hell to run.  I am told is got a very tiny sweet spot on the voltage settings.  Wheres pavingsteelman?   John shop runs 20 tons of that wire a month.  From what he told me, he has had a one in ten pass rate of welders in his shop taking a bridge test using it.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:Stuff is crap 1/2 volt sensitive,having qc problems in field due to poor quality of wire but we are still using it. The esab rep at conexpo showed me how to run it , completely different than Innershield 232 & 233.  follow Esab settings exactly  , good  luck  ,1 in 10 passes D1:5 bridge test.l
Reply:Yikes. Well at least it's not just me that it doesn't quite agree with.I'm gonna practice a little more tonight, I'll let you guys know how it goes. Thanks for  your input though.Pavinsteelman, why do you have to use it?
Reply:Promised better disposition and cheaper with better credit terms .!!! Still POS  John    PS we are a Lincoln shop for 109 years .
Reply:at the welding shop i worked at the boss preferred coreshield 8. i came to like it once i got used to dialing it in. it likes to run hot in order to get a good bead.Dynasty 200DXPassport plus w/ spoolmate 100victor 315c oxy/(act and prop)Miller digital elitemilwaukee power tools
Reply:Not sure where most of you learned to weld or tried to weld with ESAB Coreshild 8, but it has a lot wider range of operation then Lincoln 232.  Why do you think Lincoln came out with 233???? Answer...ESAB was out selling 232.  Go to the ESAB web site and down load a data sheet for Coreshied 8 and it will give you the operating range for each diameter.The main problem most have with the Coreshied 8 wire is that it is a lot softer then 232.  You have to have the correct drive rolls and goose neck for the gun.  If the gun goose neck has any major curves in it then you may have some major feeding problems. (The same problem is also with the Lincoln 233)If you have Coreshied 8 dialed in to the ranges on the data sheet,  all you have to do is push it straight up.  Very little to no weave is required.  In looking at your pictures it looks like your travel speed it to fast in the first couple of pictures.  The last picture looks the best.  If you ever get any worm tracking then your wire feed speed is to fast out your stick out is to close.  You should be running a minimum of a 1/2" stick out.As for all who said its crap, I was able to get 6-8 welder out of 10 to qualify with Coreshied 8 on the first try vers. the 2-3 out of 10 who could qualify with 232.  If you have welded much with either wire, (232 vs Coreshield 8), you would know that the 232 has the smaller operating window.  If your equipment is old and beat up I would stick with 232 and stay away from Coreshied 8 and Lincoln 233.  I can't comment on Lincoln 233 because I have only tried it once and have never tried to qualify any one with it.Syncrowave 350 LX TIGRunnerThermal Arc Power Wave 185 TSWXMT 304/12VSESAB Powercut 1500MultiMaster 260MM 200
Reply:Thanks for the response. I will try some more plates with less weaving in the next few days and report back with pictures.
Reply:Originally Posted by HeliarcmanNot sure where most of you learned to weld or tried to weld with ESAB Coreshild 8, but it has a lot wider range of operation then Lincoln 232.  Why do you think Lincoln came out with 233???? Answer...ESAB was out selling 232.  Go to the ESAB web site and down load a data sheet for Coreshied 8 and it will give you the operating range for each diameter.The main problem most have with the Coreshied 8 wire is that it is a lot softer then 232.  You have to have the correct drive rolls and goose neck for the gun.  If the gun goose neck has any major curves in it then you may have some major feeding problems. (The same problem is also with the Lincoln 233)If you have Coreshied 8 dialed in to the ranges on the data sheet,  all you have to do is push it straight up.  Very little to no weave is required.  In looking at your pictures it looks like your travel speed it to fast in the first couple of pictures.  The last picture looks the best.  If you ever get any worm tracking then your wire feed speed is to fast out your stick out is to close.  You should be running a minimum of a 1/2" stick out.As for all who said its crap, I was able to get 6-8 welder out of 10 to qualify with Coreshied 8 on the first try vers. the 2-3 out of 10 who could qualify with 232.  If you have welded much with either wire, (232 vs Coreshield 8), you would know that the 232 has the smaller operating window.  If your equipment is old and beat up I would stick with 232 and stay away from Coreshied 8 and Lincoln 233.  I can't comment on Lincoln 233 because I have only tried it once and have never tried to qualify any one with it.
Reply:I hate ESAB dual shield wire, switch to Hobart ExcelArc.Disclaimer; "I am just an a$$hole welder, don't take it personally ."
Reply:Originally Posted by galencwiI have had a lot of those issuses you mentioned.   Thanks for your imput.  Its hard to find good info on running 232 or coreshied 8.
Reply:Esab has published incorrect information on welding parameters. There is a tech data sheet out there that does not even come close to the actual welding parameters called out on the Coreshield 8 data sheet. Very confusing!http://products.esabna.com/EN/home/f...eshield_8_71t8[url]Or this one.http://products.esabna.com/index.php/library/application/pdf/1317835701_cor-1129_-_coreshield_8_data_sheet.pdf[/urlThis one is closest to the parameters that I use.]http://products.esabna.com/index.php/library/application/pdf/1233264938_cor-1032_coreshield_8_data.pdf
Reply:I got the hang of it a while ago.  The long goos neck for the K126 gun is the balls because it helps keep my hands from burnig on the way up.Look herehttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=26734DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:It's wild that you just commented. I've been swamped with work and haven't touched this stuff for months, but I'm all set to start practicing it again tomorrow night. Thanks for the info, I'll give it a good look over and post back tomorrow with an update on my own results.IW Local 580 NY, NY
Reply:Back in school when running fluxcore it was picky about the amps and volts so someone would always help the other person dial it in as they were welding. It was set at 20v to 21v and 250 amps if you weld outside of recommended setting it can have adverse effects on the weldment.
Reply:I jerked around a little bit tonight with this. Here's what I came up with. I'm just welding old 1" square bar that I burned down on an rough angle, to give me something like a groove plate. The root was pretty rough; didn't even take a picture of it.Welded on 20.0v/150ipmThis is just a fillet I ran trying to keep my stringer more narrow. It seemed to go alright on the bottom, but as I got higher it looks like I just moved too fast and left all those holes. I think the thick of it is that I need to concentrate on the root pass. After that I'm pretty confident that I have a good enough weld to pass. It's only a side bend test, not an x-ray. The slag falls off in one piece every time so I'm filling the sides of the weld.Any thoughts are appreciated.Last edited by BlueArc; 12-06-2011 at 09:11 PM.IW Local 580 NY, NY