Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

I cannot emphasize this enough. I couldn't get a bead w/the HF wire. I bought some lincoln wire from Home Depot, and it turned my flux welder into a champ.

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

The flux core stuff is not too bad does the job... I got a MIG welder from a local shop in UK after serveral practice it is turning out not bad. However I do have 2 problem with it. One is wel welding body panel or thin metal it just burnt right through it even at the lowest setting available and go through it as quick as I can. Also when bridging gaps, think I need to do some learning on those matter as I don't think it is the machine fault.

Oh yea the flux core wire is pretty expensive too over here, but it is handy as our weather in UK seems to be windy all the times hence using gas outdoor would not be ideal :(

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

yeah its def a lot easier to weld thicker stuff. im going to have to flux weld a manifold together, we'll see how long that baby holds up :6

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

If you keep doing it, you'll find a comfortable rhythm. Angle the tip about 45 degrees. Sooner or later, you'll minimize that splatter. My welds barely has splatter now. I use the Lincoln version tho from Home Depot. Definitely worth it and paid itself off tenfold. I've done plenty of DP, DT, intercooler piping, blah blah.....

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

you pushing or pulling yer welds

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

Most of us are using .35 or .3 wire & lack proper heat adjustments. Low settings piles welds up with no penitration, high settings blow through. If I were going to stick with my HF flux core welder, I would give thinner wire a try.

I think it would be benifitial for most of us doing flux-core to swap to thinner wire for pipe.

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

i do both, however, i find that pulling the weld with a small amount of circular motion gives the best weld with little spatter, max heat and 75% speed, on thicker metal, gives good penetration.

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

+1

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

definitely +2 here.......

Re: My welds (Harbor Freight Flux Core)
 

I run mine @ 50% speed usually for everything

Is that to slow? The motor seems to be hauling ass at 7-8, like gonna burn out if I weld for 2 min fast