5 Beginner Welding Tips And Tricks | Gasless Flux Core Welding |

[@NightWrencher]

Theres a whole flux core welding playlist here on the channel full of videos like this so check it out!

[@stevengegar9709]

PAM COOKING SPRAY IS CHEAPER THAN THAT SPRAY, LOL LOL LOL AND I WILL TAKE YOUR SUGGESTION AND GET ME DOME ''''LINCOLN SHIELDED WIRE

[@CameronDC-Grimes]

Have you used E71T-11 instead of E71T-GS. E71T-11 allows all positions, even overhead has a fast freeze puddle. It also allows you to run multiple beads on top of each other( multiple passes) unlike E71T-GS and E71T-1MJH8 and E71T-1C Flux Core 0.030" wires. Have you tried Blue Demon wire, they have E71T-11 in 0.030"/0.8mm.

[@earlwagner5940]

I've learned all these lessons along the way but it's taken me years because I've had to learn them the hard way by myself. I wish I learned this stuff twenty years ago. On behalf of all of us garage welders, thank you....

[@NightWrencher]

Much appreciated! Thank you!

[@SonsofWadd]

Love the phrase "garage welders."

[@jamesward5721]

I use flux-core & gas mig on car bodywork for a living. Both work great - but with flux core, the wire you are running matters far more than with solid wire. If you try flux-core weld with bad wire, it will do nothing more than annoy you. If you buy good wire, then the process starts making huge sense. I was working on a complex car body all day today, welding it using flux-core - wire on the spool ran out, it was late, easier to grab the gas-shielded machine sitting nearby than to muck about fitting a fresh coil - when you jump back onto a gas-shielded machine after doing A LOT of flux core, first thing you notice is just what a doddle gas-shielded is in comparison - but that's not the full picture, as flux-core produces a far stronger weld on car bodywork, it's less brittle, it produces a much flatter weld, it handles contaminates a LOT better - if you work on older vehicles (I do) and hit a section that has brass/bronze brazed areas, gas mig will do next to nothing for you - it won't weld. Flux core will. Flux core also shrugs off paint contamination, where gas-shielded will sulk. A good "Test" to prove how superior flux-core is for bodywork is to make a tack weld, then go break it off. With gas-shielded, you will break the tack easily enough - it's brittle. With flux, you will have a pain in your behind breaking the tack & will probably have to resort to grabbing the grinder & cutting it or you will pull & distort the surrounding metal it bites that hard. The downside to flux-core for bodywork is also tacking - it's much harder to do one handed if you are using your other hand to hold metal in place - which you usually are. Gas-s has the handy shroud to rest the torch on as you align your tip - flux-c doesn't have that "steady rest" - you have to hover with the gun - which can be easier said than done. Flux-core also burns a damn sight brighter than gas-shielded - if you got used to welding without a mask using your co2 mig, you're not doing that with flux-core. A mask is essential, even for small tacks. The arc is so bright, closing your eyes will not cut it. You also rapidly discover how good your welding mask is - any lag at all & the initial arc-strike is far more harsh than with gas-mig. If you are welding bodywork, you will often encounter situations where the masks sensor is blocked from seeing the arc - so it will not trigger the darkening. With flux-core, you damn well notice when that happens - with gas mig, it's no biggie at all. You will also discover how good your welding machine is with flux-core - the "high end" of the amp/volts adjustment is irrelevant - you will fast discover if your machine will go low enough when you have it banged off the "Low Stop" at 12V & would really like to wind it back to 8 or 9 but 12 is as low as it will go. With flux-core, you want a machine that goes REALLY low far more than you want one that pumps out the amps - flux core is super thin in reality & will tolerate very small amperages while still penetrating great - which is why it is a brilliant process. But also why you want a really good machine - which is never what happens as people think flux-core is a "Cheapo" process - so they buy the cheapest machine & the cheapest wire. When in reality it is a premium process that demands a premium machine & premium wire.. Ironically.

[@jamesward5721]

^^ which nobody will bother to read, lol, but I weld high-end bodywork all day every day for customers using flux-core - which damn near every welder I know IRL says can't be done as it is "junk". They're wrong, I'm right & they're just doing it wrong. Pretty much. Been welding for close to 40 years, weld all day every day on stuff people say can't be welded - if you gave me the choice of keeping just one process (we have close to every process machine in the workshop) I'd grab one of the flux-core machines & work away with that. We have 5k Kemppi 3ph Migs - I'd walk past them & grab the 500 quid single phase flux-core only machine if the kip caught fire.

[@NightWrencher]

No worries, I read all of it 👍 I think its just the bad advice going around and people assume that their welds are bad because they dont use gas. They dont realize that it CAN be done and done WELL.

[@johnkomosa9508]

Thanks

[@stephk5255]

Good sensible tips and/or reminders. Thanks!

[@NightWrencher]

Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@DFletcher-el4wc]

Great video! I just bought a mig welder and my first project will be exhaust.

[@shrekie50]

Thank you for all this good info.Im so new to mig welding I thought I had to used thick gloves on both hands,but what you just said about wearing the thicker glove on the left hand an the thinner one on the dominant hand to have better control makes a lot of sense.Again,thank you for you Very informative video.

[@NightWrencher]

Thank you Mr. Shrek, I hope it helps you out!

[@shrekie50]

It actually has helped me.I subscribed to your channel.Ilike how you explain things and demonstrate as well.Keep up the great work and thank you for your help.

[@daveschidlmeier6425]

Very useful welding tip. Thank You, keep them coming.

[@NightWrencher]

Thank you! I have many more coming!

[@robertclymer6948]

Thank you Nightwrencher! Awesome tips even I can understand. Now, just have to get me my fluxcore welder and do some practicing before I do my exhaust welding job. Thanks for sharing. New subscriber here and Cheers from Motown.

[@azcojpg]

Thanks for all the tips for someone new to welding in a well understood format! Definitely going to subscribe to see more, Thanks!

[@NightWrencher]

I really appreciate it! Thank you! (sorry, it takes me a long time to get to all the comments)

[@Kyle-ev4fk]

Keep em coming!

[@NightWrencher]

Thank you! There's tones more videos where this is coming from!

[@NightWrencher]

Yeah lol, I hate that stuff

[@tonydeleo3642]

Great tips, thanks!

[@NightWrencher]

Much appreciated! Trying to fill out my welding playlist for you guys as much as I can!

[@TheRobSmith69]

Thanks alot for sharing this message with me it’s gonna help.

[@toodle171]

Thanks for all your help.

[@darrylcampbell4411]

Really good content Dude. really helpful. thanks. Im enjoying them. Havent picked up the torch yet but will soon.

[@NightWrencher]

Theres an entire playlist on here and I'm always putting out more so check them out if you need more help!

[@TheProchargedmopar]

I like how you have a good cross flow of air to keep your lungs in tact. 👍💪

[@NightWrencher]

Only sometimes 🤣

[@JayFude]

Best tip I ever got was from AvE: "A grinder and paint make me the welder I ain't!"

[@NightWrencher]

Words to live by!

[@NightWrencher]

I think they all did!

[@joelkoonce8559]

You Da Man !!!

[@NightWrencher]

Thank you sir!

[@big5astra]

Hi, some good tips for sure! Question: If you're welding a thin plate to a thicker plate, how do you adjust the settings on the welder - do you select the thin plate setting or the thick plate setting - or something in between? Please explain. Thanks

[@NightWrencher]

I might have to make a video on this because I have been asked several times but basically you weld to match the thin plate holding the weld on the thicker plate and just dabbing into the thinner plate for it to bond

[@taco2k3]

Certainly don’t want wonky beads

[@MoparMan-ff8fb]

I graduated in 97 and in 95 to 97 took a 3 year course in autobody and used a Lincoln gas cooled mig welder . Few years back I bought a blue gasless flux core welder from harbor freight . I had to upgrade from the cheap pos ground clamp to a heavy duty clamp from menards. I also use the 0.35 flux core wire from menards since its made in america . with all that being said when I weld I notice it helps when you heat up the area your welding with a plumbers propane torch to take the chill / moisture off the surface to help in the welding process. some times I have issues with it globbing up even though I adjust the settings ? so when you weld do you weld strait or put just a slit angle to the side when welding ? I hear you should draw the weld towards you if the part your welding is laying flat with flux core wire ??

[@NightWrencher]

I also heat up thicker metals to get the impurities out and then wipe it down with a dry cloth before welding. I try to angle the gun away from the weld. First, it lets you see the puddle better and second, it pushes your weld back and helps build it up.

[@Nicecalgarian]

Thanks bro 💕🇨🇦. I am just starting out with exhaust welding on my wife's truck.

[@NightWrencher]

I hope it helps! Its all practice!

[@Nicecalgarian]

@@NightWrencher Definitely bro 🙏

[@breamstalker]

A good clean material is the key to a good weld

[@NightWrencher]

Exactly 👍

[@eugene5438]

I’ve enjoyed all of your welding videos and have found them helpful. Any plans for more welding content?

[@NightWrencher]

Hey man, I appreciate it! I've published some recent welding videos, I'm sure you'll like them if you havn't seen them. I put out a welding video every 4 or 5 videos so keep an eye out for more when they come out!

[@fishandreptileinfo]

Great Lesson thanks {UK)

[@NightWrencher]

Hope it helps!

[@workingshlub8861]

that glove tip is a good one....i had big bulky gloves that the trigger would get stuck and screw things up...

[@NightWrencher]

I know what you mean, we've all been there

[@allanbaldawi4896]

Thank you

[@JoseReyes-hc3zn]

Thank you for the info

[@NightWrencher]

No problem, I hope it helps!

[@captnron59]

My flux core only has a high and low setting. I mostly use the high. Now I'm wondering if my wire is too big.

[@NightWrencher]

Always use .030 wire whenever possible. Get closer as set the welder on the low setting. Move slower and youll get better results.

[@johnkomosa9508]

.030" is thirty thousands, .035" is thirty five thousands (like a spark plug gap). the difference is about the thickness of a thick sheet of paper, 5 thousands is about an 1/8th of a mm. Thanks for the tips. I suppose Miller makes good welding wire also. Also maybe Century, but seeing I have a Lincoln, I would most likely follow your recommendation. Thanks.

[@tyrotrainer765]

And 0.030" is 0.8mm, 0.035" is 0.9mm. Another tip for beginners, like me; don't get conned! I bought a cheap Chinese made Greenfield 'synergic' inverter gasless MIG welder, around $100. It allegedly does 0.6mm to 1.0mm in 4 steps.....EXCEPT there is no way to dial into the machine the wire diameter - it is preset, voltage only, to give a specific wire speed depending on the voltage knob (0-10). I got to grips with the included 1lb 0.8mm wire then when it ran out loaded up 0.9 (the feed roller does 0.030 and 0.035) - my welds were a mess and I had to start over re-learning the voltage settings versus steel gauge. By now I had enough idea to guess it was wire speed - sure enough, regardless of what wire is loaded you get the same speed for a given voltage setting. In other words, this machine only works properly with 0.8mm wire. TIP - before you buy, inspect the user manual or download it - mine is as much use as a chocolate teapot - it is totally useless. It does not give volts versus metal thickness, nor even how to load the wire. I watched a YT video of another guy here in the Philippines with a competing brand, similar price, and he obviously got a lot of bang for his buck - digital readout and adjustment of volts and wire speed, AND a substantial user manual with a settings table.

[@evanriddle1614]

Old timey sign painters support the lettering hand holding the quill lettering brush with the other hand. Anyone who's seen someone hand paint a sign will get the idea.

[@jvazquez53]

One bad thing about one Lincoln welder in particular, the Powermig 210MP. It does not work with 0.30 flux core wire in auto settings, you have to go full manual. Too bad for a pricey welder. To avoid headaches, I go with 0.35 Lincoln innershield wire.

[@NightWrencher]

I ignore the auto settings because not all wire brands weld the same and not all metals weld the same so its best to learn how to set up your welder reguardless of the auto settings

[@salvadortapia3851]

Have you done any SS pipe with mig? If you have link the video or if not try to make one please

[@NightWrencher]

I have a stainless video with flux core but not mig. Flux core welds will rust over time. Maybe soon I'll get around to making mig videos

[@kennethsmith1744]

Thanks man

[@NightWrencher]

Thank you!

[@dinadaughtry8993]

I have heard that for body work flux core is not really good that it's better to use gas and 023 solid wire for better penetration and lesson the chance of warping the metal,is there any truth to that?

[@NightWrencher]

I thought I already replied but it looks like none of my comments go posted up. For body work, flux core is a bad process. You cant really go any smaller than .030 so you end up putting in a lot of heat if youre not careful. Can it be done? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? Not unless thats all you got, you can make it work.

[@bcs1a]

@ 7:19 I saw the face on Mars :P On another note, thanks for the vids, I'm trying to learn how to weld.

[@cesarcabanillas9333]

Is your welder connected to an extension cord?

[@NightWrencher]

Yes sir. Sometimes multiple cords

[@cesarcabanillas9333]

@@NightWrencher happen to have a video or link for extension cords that are okay to use I plan on using it outdoors and my closest plug is in my garage about 25ft away was planning on using a 10 guage cord. Any suggestions?

[@NightWrencher]

I would say go for it. After a few minuets of welding go and hold the cord. If its really hot then you need a bigger cord, if not, youre good

[@cesarcabanillas9333]

@@NightWrencher do you happen to know what gauge your extension cord is

[@NightWrencher]

I just use what I laying around. I have 10 12 and 14ga cords

[@wrdturkey]

The anti-spatter spray tastes like soap to me.

[@NightWrencher]

The can says don't eat it! Also, the spray does have an interesting scent

[@wrdturkey]

@@NightWrencher The kind of anti-spatter spray I have smells like soap too. It works great! I always try to adjust my settings to where I don't really need it. I found when you FCAW, you need good clean up tools to make it really look good and go faster.

[@BlackDog69]

Need to find a lefty to buy my other gloves.

[@jamescaneda9515]

Good information for starters, but I can’t stop looking at that welder’s helmet on the floor. In any shop, you must take care of your equipment.

[@fernandorivas4230]

i sure hope you don't have this welder connected to that 3 way extension cord i see in the video. that looks to me like a fire hazard .

[@08Roadgl]

Good tips. Thanks!

[@NightWrencher]

Much appreciated!

[@FinallyMe78]

Great video! Thanks