Hot take: switching from stick to flux-core wire changed how I work

I spent my first 8 years burning 6010 rod on everything, but after a week of running flux-core on a big tank job in Baton Rouge, I realized I was wasting time cleaning slag. Anybody else find a better fit after sticking with one process for too long?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryan95217d ago

Ngl flux-core saves more time than I ever expected on thick plate.

wyatt_fisher4117d ago

Tweak your settings a bit though @ryan952, because flux-core can be a little aggressive on the penetration with thin stuff. You gotta find that sweet spot between speed and burn-through, especially on anything under 3/8. Still beats dragging stick any day on a big job though.

jakef6617d ago

Yeah that "aggressive on penetration" thing is real... I was burning through 16 gauge the other day and had to dial the wire speed way back and bump up the travel speed just to keep a puddle going without dropping a glob out the back. Once you find that balance though it's night and day difference from stick... no slag hammering, no rod changes, just keep feeding wire. Big jobs especially where you're standing in one spot for a while, flux core lets you just lock in and burn without stopping every three minutes to chip and start a new rod.