On Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:52:52 -0700, wrote:

I watched someone use a MIG welder with a flux-core wire. There was a
lot of spatter.

1) Is this usual? How can it be minimized?
2) Is there significantly less spatter when using the same welder with
shielding gas?
3) If so, what is the place of flux-core wire welding? Is it just
something to get weekend users to buy MIG welders?
4) Do you get the same amount of spatter with stick welding?

Thanks,

Michael Koblic,
Campbell River, BC

Spatter is the name of the game with flux core. Pure and simple.

Now..the welder may..may have been set up with the wrong polarity. Its
reversed with flux core..and that will indeed spatter. I did that once
and it drove me nuts until I sat down and read the manual..and the big
Light Bulb came on over my head.

Now if the polarity is correct...there are some tricks you can use to
keep spatter down...closer distance to work, shorter arc, lower the
amps..etc etc..but..flux core spatters.

CO2 spatters..but not anywhere as bad
C25 spatters..but even less if the machine is setup and used properly.

Gunner

--
Maxim 12: A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Once wrath is looking the other way, shoot it in the head.