The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest wire feed slag control

I was at the Ft Hood craftshop and they showed me a can of areosol spray to reduce/eliminate slag on flux core wire welders.
It was a can about the size of a paint can marked Splatter Control. It did not stop all of it, but reduced about 90% of the trash my Harbor freight 110v flux core welder spit out...

Said to try at the local welding supplier.

Brad,

The slag covering the weld is the byproduct of the burning flux that protects the weld puddle from the atmosphere, it's suppose to be there.

The spray stuff will coat the adjacent metal and allow the dingle berries to be wiped away without sticking, but it won't prevent the weld puddle from developing a slag covering. The intense arc burns it right off.

If you want a cleaner weld area, use a solid wire, or use gas with your flux core wire. This of course would require a gas setup on your welder.

Stuart

Stuart
I believe you said it better than I did, Thank you.
My LIMITED welding experience I had never heard of such a product. My intent was informational to stir up a little discussion. There are at least a few bolters that might benefit from the info, like me not able to afford a better welder at this time.
Once again, Thank you for the clairifcation .
Brad

We used to have the spray but it was taken off our chemical list. We still have the dipping paste for dipping the nozzle in. It is spatter control and not a slag eliminator.

Stuart, you had it nailed....also, the slag covering slows the cooling of the weld....slightly, this is probably most important on body panels.

Can you weld body panels with flux core wire?

Yes, you can but it's certainly not the cleanest or best method. Because the arc has to be strong enough to melt the flux located inside the wire, it tends to burn through thin material such as body panels.

Stuart

If you ever weld with shielding gas, especially using .023 wire, you will never want to use flux core on body panels again. Flux cure has its place like out in the wind or for high amperage heavy welding, but it is easy for someone just learning to weld to get so frustrated with flux wire on body panels that they give up.

The gas 20-80 co2 argon costs a little more but saves a lot of time. the only time flux core is handy is outside. The wind tends to blow away shielding gasses.