![]() ![]() 7 indicates tensile strength (here, 70,000 pounds per square inch ).Note that hardsurfacing wires do not have a classification according to the American Welding Society (AWS), but all other gas- and self-shielded flux-cored wires do.Īs an example, a gas-shielded flux-cored wire designed for welding mild steel has the AWS classification E70T-1C. Flux-cored wires also are available for hardsurfacing new parts to protect them from impact and abrasion and for rebuilding old or worn-out parts. Gas-shielded and self-shielded flux-cored wires are available for flat/horizontal or all-position welding on base materials ranging from mild and low-alloy steel to stainless steel and special alloyed metals like chrome-moly. Common applications for gas-shielded flux-cored wires include general fabrication, pressure vessels, petrochemical piping, and heavy-equipment manufacturing. The flux in self-shielded wires generates the shielding gas, which makes these wires highly portable and ideal for outdoor welding applications, such as structural steel, shipbuilding, and bridge construction. Both types are composed of an outer sheath and are filled with flux, a compound that is a mixture of alloys and deoxidizers, the latter of which are necessary to protect the weld from contaminants.Īs their name implies, gas-shielded flux-cored wires require an external shielding gas supply to protect the weld self-shielded wires do not. With more knowledge you can choose and use flux-cored wires confidently for your own welding applications.įlux-cored wires have been around since the 1950s and are available in two main versions: gas-shielded and self-shielded. Becoming acquainted with some basics, including the most appropriate applications, general classifications and characteristics, and advantages and limitations, of flux-cored wires can yield significant results. However, flux cored welding works well on most carbon steels, nickel alloys, cast iron and some stainless steels.By arming yourself with some basic knowledge, you can choose and use flux-cored wires for your own welding applications confidently.įlux-cored arc welding (FCAW) wires certainly aren't new, but like any part of the welding process, understanding them can be confusing-without the right information. Most non-ferrous exotic metals, including aluminum, cannot be welded with the flux cored method. The molten bath simultaneously melts the flux core of the electrode to create a protective shield from the environment and a slag that protects the weld from contamination. Together, the melting electrode and the metal form a molten bath. When the wire reaches the metal joint, a short circuit occurs, causing the electrode to heat up and begin to melt.Īs the wire electrode melts, the metal also begins to melt. As the electrode passes through the wire feeder, it becomes electrically charged. To begin the welding process with the flux-drilled method, the welder first depresses the trigger, which continuously feeds the electrode to the weld seam. As a result, the finished weld is covered with slag that may need to be removed. One of the disadvantages of FCAW is that the welding arc creates spatter. There is no need to bring a separate gas cylinder to the welding site, which makes FCAW more convenient. This internal shielding can even withstand strong winds. When using the FCAW process on thicker metals, a good, strong weld can be made in one pass.īecause the filled wire produces its own shielding gas during the welding process, FCAW works much better outdoors than the MIG method. In fact, FCAW is only recommended for materials no thinner than 20 gauge. For thicker material, Flux-Cored Arc Welding works better than MIG welding. ![]()
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