How Do I Avoid Spatter???

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So, being a novice, I'm starting to play around a little more lately. Trying to get heat and wire speed settings figured out. My question is...What causes the spatter around my beads? Is it caused by the heat being turned up too high? I always figured there should be some spatter, but I get quite a bit - those tiny little balls of steel all around my bead. Just doesn't look right.I do not use cover gas - - just straight flux core wire. So what's going on?Weekend MigBackyard MechanicWelder: DECASTAR 150E, Wire Feed w/ Gas Potential (not currently using gas)
Reply:ehh, most of the spatter is probably due to the fact that you are using flux core wire.  Gas will help reduce the spatter a good bit.  You can get some spray that helps keep it from sticking, but you still get some.  Try this just for fun...get you a nice piece of clean steel...maybe 1/4 inch thick.  Turn the heat up to the max setting or just a little less than that.  Turn the wire speed to about half of full speed.  Run a bead about 3-5 inches long.  Incrementally turn up the wire speed a bit on each new bead.  You will find a point where spatter is fairly low for the heat, even with flux core.  Write down your settings when you like the looks of it and get nice penetration.  Do the same for a variety of thicknesses.  You will have you a chart of the best settings for flux core on your machine, that way you can dial it right into the right spot for a variety of sizes.  Each machine has its sweet spot.  You just got to find it.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:^^^^^^^^ pretty much what he said...and another thing ...flux core wire should NEVER be used in bodywork or anything else that you want a nice painted finish on...no matter how much you grind and weld and grind again the acid in the core will not go away no matter how much you prep it b-4 finish primer and paint...the acid will eat paint/primer from the inside out no matter what you do  ...zap!
Reply:Hey zap,thanks for that!! Another tidbit in the archives.
Reply:Thanks for the info Guys. Interesting point about the flux core and paint. Definitely good for future reference. I have not yet done any body welding, but I'm thinking I might want to try some time. I guess I'll have to start looking at getting the cover gas set-up for my welder.Thanks again.Weekend MigBackyard MechanicWelder: DECASTAR 150E, Wire Feed w/ Gas Potential (not currently using gas)
Reply:I am not familiar at all with this acid in flux core wires. Solder yes, but filler wire no.Do you have more info on that?? Thanks.
Reply:Originally Posted by SandyI am not familiar at all with this acid in flux core wires. Solder yes, but filler wire no.Do you have more info on that?? Thanks.
Reply:Clean the weld area.  All of that rust and grease just makes the spatter problem worse.
Reply:Originally Posted by 76GMC1500Clean the weld area.  All of that rust and grease just makes the spatter problem worse.
Reply:Howdy Howdy!  I am curious, does this fluxcore wire have a label?  Could be cheep/crappy wire as well.  It'd be great to know brand, country of origin, and aws classification or make/model. Brian Lee  Sparkeee27
Reply:Originally Posted by Sparkeee24Howdy Howdy!  I am curious, does this fluxcore wire have a label?  Could be cheep/crappy wire as well.  It'd be great to know brand, country of origin, and aws classification or make/model. Brian Lee  Sparkeee27