Welding sheet metal with flux core vs gas shield welder ?

[axisg]

Ok, I have been spoiled for years with access to skilled welders and machinery. However my friend has now moved his shop out of town and I no longer have instant access to his skill or the mig, tig, and plasma machines.
I have an ancient stick welder, and my Oxy / Acet torches which works well for heavier stuff but looking at buying a machine to do thinner metals ( floor pans, exhaust, etc... ) Really not interested in renting an Argon bottle so I would like some real world opinions on using a flux core self shielding wire. I don't manufacture just need something for the occasional repair so light to medium duty should be fine.

 

[pontiacgp]

if your metal is new and or well cleaned flux core is ok and the wire speed is more critical with flux core cause it will backburn easier..

 

[Opie Knievel]

I'm not a professional welder but I do own a MIG welder and I have used it some. MIG welding (with argon/CO2) is "easier". It's not hard to learn to lay down a decent bead. There's no slag to clean up. Flux core does leave slag to clean up and from what I've read, you can weld thicker metal with it than you can with MIG.

Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.

 

[pontiacgp]

it is easier with MIG and you can get the tanks at TSC, they are on sale now and not expensive. For personal use you probably just need a small tank...

 

[axisg]

TSC ( tractor supply co ) sells them outright ?? I thought since the Sunrise explosion you needed to either rent the bottles ( and pay an month rental fee ) or have a license of sorts to re-fill bottles that you own outright. I know my oxy / acyt set is well over 20 years old now LOL. And the last few years it's been a bit of a pain to get then re-filled.

 

[pontiacgp]

you don't need a licence to buy welding gas

http://www.tscstores.com/PRAXAIR-C25-Co2ARGON-MIX-LD-55CF-P18204.aspx#.V-wBKPArK70

 

[Opie Knievel]

I bought my argon tank from Tractor Supply. It's a fairly hassle free experience to exchange an empty tank for a full one. I suggest that you buy the biggest tank you can afford. It costs quite a bit more for the bigger tanks but it doesn't cost very much more to get refills compared to the small tanks.

 

[Flyers9928]

For sheet metal, the lower end flux core machines are usually too hot. I have a flux core that only has a high/low switch and wire speed adjust and with thinner metals it very hard not to burn thru.

 

[Texas82GP]

Harbor Freight sells the cylinder also. 20 cubic foot. I have a 40 cubic foot cylinder on my machine and it lasts a long time so 20 cubic feet would be ok.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-cubic-ft-argon-gas-cylinder-92807.html

 

[pontiacgp]

Harbor Freight sells the cylinder also. 20 cubic foot. I have a 40 cubic foot cylinder on my machine and it lasts a long time so 20 cubic feet would be ok.

http://www.harborfreight.com/20-cubic-ft-argon-gas-cylinder-92807.html

axisg is in Toronto and you can't ship that over the border......