Welding with flux core wire?

[nekkidhillbilly]

And Hobart is made by Miller.

this is true also all are good welders the reconditioned northern migs are the best value for a good machine i can find

[David_viny]

Thanks for the response! I had a feeling it was BS. I used a stick welder to fix a few things on some random junker cars I had a few years ago and of course knocked off the slag, ground them down, and painted over them. The paint held up fine a few years later.

I just never used flux core, and it would have REALLY sucked if I welded up a whole car and it had paint issues.

[John Wright]

In case you are wondering if FCAW is strong enough for structural work....this is for Princeton University and is being welded in my shop with E70T-1 w/100% CO2 shielding gas. 440amps/29.5volts @ about 15"/min. It took (4-5) 60# rolls of wire to weld each column like this one.

the Welder is Melvin and he has been with me here at this plant as one of our 40 welders for a little over 30 years.

[Happyfunballs]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to stick weld it? Less material costs for the same/more "bonding" strength? There must be a visual factor involved.

[John Wright]

Wouldn't it be cheaper to stick weld it? Less material costs for the same/more "bonding" strength? There must be a visual factor involved.

Stick welding is much more labor intensive so it drives up our manhours....then factor in 10%+/- stub loss, dramaticlly reduced speed of travel (5-7"/min for 5/32" E7018 vs 15-20"/min for 3/32" FCAW), and having to reload the stinger every 10-12" of linear weld vs a continuous 60# roll of wire. Stick welding is considerably slower and more expensive in all respects.
The base plates are 6.5" thick, flanges are over 3" thick and over 14" wide...I can't imagine having to fill a 45° bevel with E7018.....

[Happyfunballs]

Huh, ok. Interesting indeed.

[John Wright]

Sorry to sound so passionate about it...LOL...fabricating structural steel for highrise buildings is all that I've done my entire working career. I've done just about every position here from a general laborer, to programming equipment, to detailing and creating shop drawings from the contract drawings, to assisting the plant mgr with employee record keeping, and finally I've landed in the QC office as the mgr for the past 12 years performing all of the welder qualifications and weld inspection (visual, dye penetrant, magnetic particle, and ultrasonic testing).

[Happyfunballs]

Don't be sorry, I think it's truly interesting, although Melvin appears as if he could be happier doing something else. If you ever need HSS, look us up. :shamlessplug:

[John Wright]

another pic of Melvin cutting some plate ::shameless plug::...LOL

[robertjra]

In case you are wondering if FCAW is strong enough for structural work....this is for Princeton University and is being welded in my shop with E70T-1 w/100% CO2 shielding gas. 440amps/29.5volts @ about 15"/min. It took (4-5) 60# rolls of wire to weld each column like this one.

the Welder is Melvin and he has been with me here at this plant as one of our 40 welders for a little over 30 years.

wow that pic is cool that would be sweet to work on stuff like that all day

[John Wright]

wow that pic is cool that would be sweet to work on stuff like that all day

Trust me...it's not so "cool" to weld on that material with around 450amps at arms length, in this heat, with the fans turned away to keep from blowing your shielding gas. I have to keep after the guys to stay hydrated....I'm sure they are tired of hearing me preach about drinking plenty of fluids.