A major thing with flux core is keeping moisture out of wire.Also if used for something of strength (ie frame,crossmembers)give a little grind.What looks like a clean weld on the surface may have a worm hole from one end to other,we tried to xray a bunch a while back.I think this was due to moisture in wire.If you are not going to using it for a while keep wire in a dry place.
============================================= Hi Hooligan, You confirmed that for flux core self shielding the polarity should be straight/electrode negative/DCEN, just as I read it off my Lincoln WeldPak instructions back in 1998. I think the portion of my post you called "totally wrong" was the relative heat generation at the electrode and work with each DC polarity. I think the Lincoln and Miller tech info typically says something like this about relative heat generation in an electrical arc. http://www.millerwelds.com/products/tig/diversion_165/samplechapter.pdf "In a DCEN arc, approximately 70 percent of the heat generated by the arc occurs in the work piece." The left hand side of Fig 3, here is similar - http://www.millerwelds.com/resources/articles/TIG-GTAW-Tungsten-Selection/ ESAB says this - http://www.esabna.com/EUWeb/AWTC/Lesson2_11.htm "Direct current electrode negative (DCEN) is produced when the electrode is connected to the negative terminal of the power source. Since the electrons flow from the electrode to the plate, approximately 70% of the heat of the arc is concentrated at the work,and approximately 30% at the electrode end." My "'explanation" resulted when combined with the common recommendation that flux core is not as suitable for thin materials as gas shielded MIG. (chart on second page of the Lincoln handiMig brochure here. http://www.lincolnelectric.com/***ets/global/products/k14001-1/handymig-handycore-eng.pdf What is your take on flux core's suitability for lighter gauges of sheet steel compared to real gas shielded MIG? regards, Dan T
My air conditioning went out once........ luckily my man servant was able to keep me comfortable with a big ostrich feather fan so I could keep welding!
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