You don't have to do the back and forth movement when flux core welding. Just pull in a straight line and make sure your puddle is covering the gap evenly on both sides of the weld. You're also a little too close to pushing your weld rather than pulling. Flux creates slag so you drag.
I'm new to welding learning by teaching myself. Its definitely a skill it's more challenging and frustrating than I thought. Thx for the info, I'll keep watching and keep trying...👍
That’s no lie. They make it look easy. I can’t see shit through my hood like in some of these videos. I was doing okay on a scag mower blade just making beads. But it was almost burning through. Then when I moved to 1/8 mild steel I was blowing holes in it. Kinda hard not having someone there telling you what exactly it is you’re doing wrong. I know I need to work on my angle. I noticed that affects quality dramatically.
Ya its really hard when you are new to it keep trying till you learn i guess or if you do autobody work use jb weld i seen a video where a body shop owner did a patch panel repair and used jb weld turned out great and will last just like welds
Hey, lotta good stuff here, and you covered the most relevant safety things too. Priceless knowledge that is free. Wasn't always free before the internet. So I respect and appreciate you taking the time to giving this to us newbies. Just got my welder and I know it's smart to watch some videos like this before even opening the box. GREAT THANK YOU!!!
Good informative video for us learner handypersons. Cant stress the importance though of having clean metal and free of all oil, mill scale and even paint before welding with flux core.
Superb video. Easy to grasp and perfectly pitched at the beginner who's 'done bits before' like me. Any workshop practice can be dangerous and it was really good to see safety dealt with first before using any tools or machinery. Having spent months seeking a basic welding course to suit my needs without success, I am now more than confident that from watching this video a few times, I have the knowledge and confidence to practice in my own workshop. Everyone gets better with experience. Thanks for taking the time for this.
I’m very much the hobbyist, and even though I can MIG and stick weld with my welder my first choice outdoors is flux core. Our flat (apartment) is in one of those places that catches wind even on a calm day. It is a great method that might not be as pretty as MIG but it’s more reliable outdoors because MIG is no good if that argon/CO2 is blown away. I do think there’s an element of snobbery around welding and people look down on flux core as inferior, but for hobbyist, especially outdoors, it’s brilliant. Your safety instructions around the angle grinder had me in tears of laughter but in a good way, I’ll remember "…as evil and wicked as a stripper girlfriend…". I’m positive you got the message across to the young kids who think they are indestructible as we did when we were young. You’re a very good instructor right across the board, you’re honest and admit to your lack of practice. I have a severe respiratory condition and I always wear a respirator mask when welding. I also have a welding jacket, which I think is a great investment though they aren’t a fashion statement they do save arms and shirts. This is the first video of yours but it won’t be the last, subscribed.
Flux core is solid. YUP not every application can be TIG or MIG welded and you cannot beat the penetration unless you are stick I assume. As for the stripper girlfriend, I embellished on a Ray Wylie Hubbard tune. I had an angle grinder bite me once. Not too bad, but it had me counting fingers. peeled a nice chunk of flesh off but that was it. I'm starting to be more of a fan of PPE. Had a buddy split his thumb long ways w/ a cutting disc.
Today I made my first welds with a flux. I haven’t welded since boy scouts but I can’t afford the nice mig we used back then. It’s been the most fun I’ve had in a while getting to troubleshoot little issues. It’s a journey but a fun one. Thanks for the video too. Figured I could find some wise words and it helped.
I have a 'grinder war wound' above my left thumb knuckle - at the webbing - as well. Lost a battle with a metal cutting wheel while shortening some tubing. Fight was over before I even knew it. Thing was on the ground spinning away. Me standing there dumbfounded. Took a few seconds before I even knew what happened. Bleeding all over the place. Good for you to reinforce safety to the newbies. I wear my scar as a badge of honor and a lesson to my three sons not to ever duplicate (but it could have been an eye or worse). New subscriber! New FCAW owner. ShiverGit.
A buddy cut his thumb in half long ways w/ a cutting disc. gotta watch them things. I realize I'm getting older and slower. Don't need no hospital visits. Yup them grinder accidents happen QUICK don't they?
thanks man! I'm a teen and I've been wanting to get a MIG welder to work on my dad/grandpa's 1963 dodge dart with rusty floor and trunk panels and to just know how to weld. Great video!
Im about to get a harbor freight welder to work on mini bike frames. I am glad you talked about welds failing and potentially taking out a nut or an eye. Subscribed once I was able to stop laughing, but you're right. Safety is definitely the most important part of enjoying a hobby. Thanks for the great info.
Thanks for the tips, the laughs, and all the resources on your site! I just got a little welder and all the stuff for it, and can't wait to get started making some custom motorized bikes.
Hi from the UK. Love this vid, especially the safety tips. Recently got myself a gasless mig and my first job is repairing my old lawn mower. The tute you did on those various plates will really come in handy. Can't wait to get started.
I've been stick welding for several years and just bought a Hobart Handler 100 flux core welder. This video gives me some REALLY good tips on how to get started wire feed welding. Thank you !
When loading a new spool of wire pull the torch cable tight and straight, this gets the wire through easier without it binding up , also removing the tip helps .
I like this guy, he is amazingly candid. I hope the skills are preserved through such generous guys. It is not possible to give a value to knowledge. Thank you.
Thanks for the video. Helped a great deal. Great advice and appreciate the emphasis on safety. Now I just need some practice and a shit load of patience.
Got a mig and stick welder I bought to use on a Landrover, Got the jitters and never used them but now have a little bit of confidence many thanks, and don't worry will get my welds checked over by a pro before I drive it lol Keep the great videos coming.
love it - I watched a bunch of stuff, got my welder a month ago - just got my table all set up tonight - and I'm still glad I came to watch this before I started practicing. I like that he left in the problem with the paper catching on the roller - something I would never have known to think about if I saw the motor was running, the feed clamp was correct but nothing was pulling. Also So glad you point out the power of the angle grinder - I've been using that tool since I was a teenager and it blows me away how cavalier some people are with angle grinders - especially those videos of people with that new chain saw blade wheel they've made for it - that thing should not even be allowed on the market in my opinion, but in any case that guard will definitely save your bacon. ALWAYS have it on and ALWAYS make sure to take the few seconds to rotate it based on your grind angle. Guy who taught me how to use one had two missing fingers to prove that they're powerful enough to really run away from you fast - they'll dig into anything you let them grab and god help you if it grabs a shirt sleeve or something. (he learned his lesson many decades before teaching me.)
Great job I have not welded with a mig welder in about twenty years so let's RU-vid it and I start seeing your bikes and then you what a surprise nice job I needed a little refresher course and it worked for me just saying 🙄😎
Thanks for giving me a few much needed tips. Now I will do some practice with my flux core until I feel confident. I have stuck a few things together but it felt like a fluke it worked.
I've been gas shielded MIG welding since I was about 6, just used my dad's snap-on welding setup. I'm to the point where I use his welder more than he does and I buy the gas/wire for him, I've gotten insanely good at getting those perfect welds. Only reason I'm here is I recently picked up a 5500w generator (needs carb and some love) and I'm thinking about fixing it up and using it to power a welder in my small shop, and since I am sick of buying gas I wanted to see what I can do with a flux core. So thank you for your info!
I have just bought a flux core welder to learn with. I have some steel frame reinforcing for a camper van floor to make then im done. Boy its difficult. I have plenty of scrap to practice on and I have blown holes on every piece lol. Think I may have learnt something watching this and your techniques, will let you know :)
Just found your channel today and the videos on the budget welder are awesome. I have welding experience but not so much with flux core. I was watching trying to figure out what I was doing wrong I think I got it. Thank you.
You had me from: "I wanna share with you my wisdom... and it's not that much...!" Such a change from all the pedantic, know-it-all, self-righteous vloggers. Now to delve into your channel to see what else you've got... Thanx...
your video is very helpful as your showing how to weld at normal speed. so many how to videos on youtube speed it up and dont show you need to not go fast. Thank you !
I bought the Chicago Electric 125 a couple months ago. However, I just started flux-core welding today. Big difficulties. I finally figured out that the wire feed was too slow. Epiphany it was to me that you told longer wire is cooler and shorter wire is hotter. After an hour of weld time, two hours clock time. I found keeping the arc going on 10-gauge steel was easier with a high wire speed. My problem which I am going to bed with is that if I do not get a spark immediately, the wire gets too long. Sometimes when I finish a run the wire is three feet inches long.
My fave video and instructor on flux core, I've just started myself with flux core and like he says it does take practice, I spent a whole day just grinding and welding bits and pieces together and by the end of the day I looked homeless, I was that dirty and had that many holes in my clothes it was unreal. One of my problems as a novice is helmet settings, I'm still struggling to see what and where I'm welding sometimes which is a pain.
I bought a helmet with a bigger viewing area. I set it on 10. Check out this video. Might help : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE--FM2L_KOakU.html
I think your wire was caught at the welding tip.....aren't you supposed to remove the tip then feed the wire through the whip and then feed it through the tip and screw it on??
I have about 3 gallons of gas thru the 4 stroke motor. I am so happy that I have built it. Still love my 2 stroke's but this is the way to go. Using the arc chain tensioner. 38t sprocket. I'm not going to say how fast it is. Running timkin wheel bearings, it is a good little bike.
@@HughesMotorized Safety 👍 had a guy have a wheel explode at the job site. Hit him in the jugler. He died before anyone could help him. I have burned a rod or two. We have a Miller here at the shop. You guys damn sure better believe what the Man is saying. 🕶️😕
@@Saddletramp1200: Also be careful with what you use to clean the metal before welding. Do NOT use brake cleaner on a metal surface if it contains tetrachloroethylene. I don't know if flux core welding involves argon gas but even so, it's best not to start bad habits at this basic level. Phosgene gas is fatal shit. I know Mr. Hughes knows this because he's a very cautious man. You can't be too cautious. No such thing as too safe. Thank you Mr. Hughes for the great education on welding.
dammit, I just lost my nutsack and it flew in my eye hole..had I only found this video sooner! In all seriousness thank you for making this, I suck at welding and found this helpful!
