Had to pick between a flux core welder and a stick machine for job site work

I was doing a boiler repair at a plant in Gary last month and couldn't drag my big Miller out there. Had to choose between my little flux core setup or grabbing a borrowed stick welder from the shop. I went with the flux core because I didn't want to deal with rods getting damp in the cold. Big mistake, the wind kept blowing my gas shield away and I spent an extra 2 hours grinding out bad passes. Any of you guys run into this on outdoor jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

emery19921d ago

Stick with 7018 rods, flux core sucks in wind.

the_nathan21d ago

Yeah, "flux core sucks in wind" hits on something bigger I notice all the time. People pick a tool or method cause it's trendy or easier indoors, then blame the gear when real conditions mess it up. Flux core is great in a shop, but out in a breeze it's like trying to talk with a fan in your face. Same thing happens with cordless tools on a cold jobsite - batteries die fast and everyone acts surprised. We keep trying to fit square pegs in round holes instead of just grabbing the right tool for the weather. A little common sense goes a long way.

william_torres20d ago

7018 rods are stick welding, not flux core wire. They're two different processes that run on different machines. Just gotta pick the right rod or wire for the job and the weather you're working in.