Is Mig Gas worth the cost for beginner welders? MiG vs. flux core

If you’ve been holding off on adding gas to your welding setup because you’re thinking you might just be wasting money, then I’m thinking about this too. In this video, you will see the comparison if you really need gas or not and whether you’re just wasting money buying gas while keeping your tank in your garage and taking up space.

MIG welding is now the trend in the world of welding. Basically, it’s one of the easiest things to use compared to the other forms of welding. But in terms of saving money, is MIG gas worth it for beginner welders? And do we really need gas to weld with mig?

In this video, I’m going to show you the result of using mig welding gas and gasless welding and see the comparison. So what I mean by gasless welding is the application of flux core welding. And if you want to learn flux core welding better watch this video to the very end.

Now, what we are discussing here is pointing out if we need gas to do some welding in our garage. The use of gas, of course, means an extra load on your wallet because as you weld your gas gets exhausted and then you need to refill. Mig welding gas is not that cheap. But you need welding gas to shield the arc that your torch produces and this is necessary to avoid contamination of the weld pool from the surrounding air.

On the other hand, flux core welding doesn’t require the use of gas because the wire electrode itself contains a mixture of alloys and deoxidizers which burns like gas and protects the weld pool. But why do we need gas then and use the solid core wires if we can weld with flux core welding? Well, as I’ve said, you will find out in this video and compare the result of two welding processes – gasless welding and the use of mig welding gas and decide which is worth going for.

You will also learn how to set up the solid core wire and how to be aware when installing the flux core wire spool into your mig welder. Because this wire is very soft it can be easily ruined by too much pressure on your mig’s drive roller. If you want to know how to set up the flux core wire in a detailed process, watch my other video on my YouTube channel.

I am lucky though because my mig welder is capable of gas and gasless welding and I can switch to any of these two based on where I weld. For instance, if I want to weld outdoors, I will need to go for flux core welding. But inside my garage, I would often prepare welding using the mig welding gas because, in my experience, the hold of the weld using solid core wire electrodes is more solid.

So is MIG gas worth it for beginner welders if you’ll go for the gas, you’ll find out in this video. And for those who want to learn flux core welding, this video is also for you.

[randypavlu]

Great video because it was to the point and will help new welders with the question mig vs flux core. I've never found the need to use gas but my first welder was an A/C welder which I had trouble laying down a good bead without huge amount of spatter. I switch to a D/C welder (and better quality) and my weld quaility was much better with very little spatter. The a/c welder was cheap and may be part of the problem. Thanks Pete....

[donaldhalls]

For some reason I get better welds from gas, but when I only had the gassless it did a alright job, all the best to you and your loved ones

[bushratbeachbum]

Straight c02 for starting out. Cheap as and you can get it at the brew shop when you get your grain!
Clean welds, no wire brush needed, welds burn nice n hot, no bottle rental, any reg with a flow meter will work!

[AFFMotorsport]

My Mig will do both, only tried Gasless as not ready to spend the money on a gas bottle yet.

[mikeleingang]

I have been watching all your videos just wondering I have seen two types of flux wire E71TGS and E71T11 what I have read is the GS wire is for single pass only have you used the GS multiple passes and had any problems? I'm just getting started, I have been wanting to weld for a long time your videos have helped allot. Thank you