Flux core wire requires you to run straight polarity, most might welder come from the factory set up for reverse polarity, open up the owners manual and double check!

 

Lots of good info in here, thanks guys. This machine is Flux only so it doesn't have an option to reverse polarity. I will try some Lincoln wire to see how that works relative to the HF stuff.

I was reading about it on welding web and people were saying one of the reasons this one lays down such crappy beads is that it's an AC output machine without a rectifier so it's basically the opposite of what you'd want for flux core wire feed.

And you guys are pushing the bead instead of pulling it? I'll have to give that a try as well.

 

For a low power welder you should push the bead. Doing do will preheat the area ahead of the bead allowing for better penetration.

A clean weld area is critical as is proper joint prep. Try beveling your steel, turn up the heat and increase your wire feed a little bit.

Practice with different patterns, a back and forth C motion might help you a little.

 

X2---i got the same welder as you (the OP) i did both of these the .9 mm tips and .035 lincon wire from lowes because i found right away that the HF wire was very hard to get a good bead and even if u did the splatter was ridiculous...but yes for 3/16 keep speed between 7 and 8 and on max heat and like others have said a wire brush and hammer right by you because before every weld you wanna clean it as good as you can...im not tryin to take others ideas just supporting it with my own personal experience...i have welded a decent amount with this welder if you take time n prep metal it really does a decent job...usually what i would do to prep metal is just take a flap disk on my angle grinder and "grind" or "polish" till shinny and no surface rust and it will make a world of diffrence!

 

Wow, I have my wire speed at 2-3, thanks for the input. Do you have any pics of a good bead laid down with this welder?

 

Use brand name wire. Cheap wire is cheap. Nothing wrong with the machine. You don't need a new welder just more practice and better quality wire. Flux core is used widely in industrial applications such as bridge and building construction. Solid wire requires a shielding gas that adds extra cost and headache if you must weld outdoors or in a drafty area.

 

hopefully i can get one up today ...if not today for sure tommaro the garage floor is cold as hell to weld on when its 10 degrees out n no heat in garage

 

Pushing vs. Pulling is myth, makes no difference in penetration! I found this hard to believe myself years ago when I was an apprentice. It only will change the appearance on the bead.

This isn't my opinion, a metallurgist for Lincoln showed me the studies to back up what he was saying!

 

I pull only because pushing didnt feel "smooth" for me. I probably need more practice, but pulling seems to work fine for me. I get satisfactory (strong) welds from this welder as long as its not super thin sheet. I did end up buying a Lincoln MIG only because I wanted to do thin sheet, but both are only 110v so on the thicker stuff, I use, and prefer the cheap flux welder,...plus I like not having to change my wire. (spoiled)

As far as the OP, please try to turn up the wire speed but still move slowly. It works very well for me even on thick sheetmetal. From your pic, it look like your wire is burning back which makes the skipping burn marks. Thats what I see in the pics at least.

And let me add, nothing is more manly then welding. Its a right of passage honestly.

 

According to black I have the manliest job on earth, I tig welded for 10 hours today!

 

You're welcome....

 

Make sure you get the Lincoln .35 tips as well. I have the 90 amp HF mig-flux core welder and weld just fine with it. I dont have to push the bead either. Just take your time and dont over heat that welder.

 

I didn't get the .035 tips/Lincoln wire, but I did buy a roll of .030 wire from Harbor freight and some 0.30 tips. The wire is made in Italy and the rest of the internet seems to think their wire isn't crappy like it was a year or two ago.

I turned the wire speed way up, from 2-3 to 7-8 and after a little work adjusting to how fast it was pooling, I started doing concentric circles and holy crap, the bead actually follows the torch now.

Here's an example of what I put down last night with just a little bit of wire brush clean up:



I did an entire seam across the front of the bumper really quickly, it was amazing. Thanks a lot for all the suggestions.

 

Much nicer Alaskan! Practice practice practice did I mention practice?

 

Its official Im buying one of these small welders! I have so many projects I wanna do. And so much custom work!