Flux Cored Welding with Gas vs without Gas (FCAW-G vs FCAW-S) | MIG Monday

Today we will be answering some questions we have been getting lately about flux cored welding WITH gas shielding versus flux cored welding WITHOUT gas shielding.

If you are doing the FCAW-G (flux cored arc welding - gas shielded) process, chances are you are in an industrial setting. A common misconception among amateur welders is that because it is flux cored welding, that the flux /slag is there to protect the weld puddle from the outside air. In fact, one of the main reasons we use FCAW-G is because the core elements of the wire are dedicated to increased deposition rates and mechanical properties of the weld, not shielding.

On the other hand, FCAW-S (flux cored arc welding - self shielded) is widely used in situations where (1) you can't bring a gas cylinder and (2) outdoors / windy areas where gas will be blown away.

Subscribe for new TIG videos every Friday and new MIG videos every Monday!

Check out some of the gear we use in our videos:

TIG Time:

#MIGMonday:
ESAB Power Sources: www.ESAB.com

[Pansarpalle]

😂😂😂😂😂

Yeah, we learned one thing. Don't forget to change polarity when you load self shielding wire. 😁😁😁

[marcuscicero]

thanks. great teacher with simple clear explanations. love to take welding classes with this man

[renierbonthuyzen]

Stupid question... Are you sure you changed to polarity to DCEN? DCEP normally causes that much spatter.

[_floW]

Anti-spatter spray would make both welds come close to being identical. I've been doing some flux-core for the past year with a Hobart 190 and before I knew about anti-spatter spray, my welds looked exactly like the one shown in the video with all the droplets. After I started using the spray, though, it was almost exactly like the one with the gas. That spray is a life saver.

[thomythach]

Why didn't you remove the nozzle ? Did you reverse the polarity from negative to positive?

[latunguley]

All of the flux core wire feed welding I've done with gas was for hardfacing on shoots inside boiler plants. And they always had us welding with gas even though we had innershield wire

[jadenpratap]

Did you have the wrong polarity set when demonstrating self shielded flux-core?

[OriginalPhotographer]

thank you boss; i love the content & learned quite a bit from this video. thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge brotha.

[pmchamlee]

I just bought a Lincoln 125 HD - I wish I had consulted you before purchase - would have bought the 140 with GMAW capability. Oh, well, thanks for your efforts. Enjoy your vids. 🤠

[nosteponsnek]

Isn't self shielded supposed to be ran on DCEN or straight polarity?

[jacobwrona]

Is there a possibility that the polarity wasn't swapped before performing the innershield demonstration? I have never had flux core spatter that bad even from corrosion covered budget wire except when I forgot to change polarity.

[mjbop]

I was thinking the same thing about the FCAW flux weld. He didn't mention polarity in the video for either process. right?

[ballpythons_co_za]

Did you change the polarity ground to positive on the flux core gasless ?

[catd]

Very informative!!! I always was curious as to what the difference was, now I know. Thank you for your instructional videos, I always learn something very useful!

[wraysgames]

Just for those of you watching this video thinking” wow if inner shield runs that bad why if it a thing?” Well I use this wire in the field occasionally and I can tell you that normally you don’t get spatter, ex specially to this extent! Not trying to bash the video, simple mistake. But inner shield welds can look very close to the dual shield welds

[jamessiagian]

Finally. I thought i was using the cheap flux cored or did wrong with the voltage. I am wondering where my mistake happened and i can't figure it out, the spatter keeps spreading. Next time i will switching gas shielded, i am done with this flux cored. Thank you for your demonstration videos grandpa, and say hello to sylas 😄

[ASAPJermz]

Use Nosel and Spatter spray protection. You spray it on your work surface, it does wonders!

[paullaviolette]

I got myself a 20 lbs co2 bottle and a set of valves all I need now is the adapter and a refill. I managed to weld up several thing around my yard using the flux core wire but since this little 110 v welder is equipped with the ability to use gas with it I want to give it a go. Can I use the co2 gas with this same flux core wire or do I need to switch to the smaller solid wire ?

[jeremyfertig]

Thank you sir... I most certainly learned something today. Much appreciated.

[extrudedesign]

Hi, i have a FCAW machine for some time now. It can run max at 22 volt. I use E71T-11 wire. The manual for the machine didn't give some recomended setting and i am a beginner at welding. Can you give some references about FCAW self shielded which give information like what voltage and speed wire should i run to weld different metal thickness. Thank you