‘Dad Shred build thread’ double locked & 5:29’s SOLD, now 2014 tundra cm TRD OR

I’ve personally found flux less forgiving than solid wire and more susceptible to porosity than solid wire because the weld can easily get contaminated with the flux. You have to be so mindful of which way you’re traveling. Porosity with solid wire really only happens when the gas gets blown away but that’s pretty easily avoidable.

I welded on flux for maybe two years straight and hands down, solid wire is superior, in my opinion anyways, and you know what they say about opinions.

 

Best advice!!!! Yeah typically someone has a trial welder or carries a cheap stick or mig with flux core along in case we need to do some repairs. But our wheeling is a bit different than ya'll out west since we usually go to an OHV park that has all sorts of amenities. Trail welding has gone on before to get someone off the trail and back to camp.

 

Flux core can be better for weathered material. My trailer is fairly beaten up and the metal has a bit of surface rust and has pitted the metal, this makes cleaning it properly for welding a challenge. While making some repairs i was using my normal 220v mig and kept getting a bit of porosity while welding, switched to a flux core spool and it stopped. This was in an enclosed garage so gas being blown away wasnt an issue.

Welding with flux is different than solid and thats why i suggest people practice with it. Ideally you always drag with flux and you shouldnt whip back up into the weld.

Solid is not superior for trail welding...
Flux isnt superior for pretty welds...

Each one has thier purpose and excel in different ways, its best to get comfortable with as many styles of welding as you can.

 

Practice practice practice....welding on a car use a bottle and 220 if you can...

But mess with flux core so you understand the difference.

Don't use brake cleaner to clean your parts (use acetone)

Just like painting its all in the prep work and it makes all the difference.

Oh and Practice some more.

Helps to have small projects to do to get that PRACTICE in lol

 

You guys are great. What an awesome community - thanks for taking the time to come chime in and help a brother out. It’s so great & you guys are all rad. So many to mention but some of the noteworthy individuals who have no business to gain but are merely good people. @EatSleepTacos @snowsk8air2 @Basikbiker @CGoss @ovrlndkull @BEAR_KNIFE_FIGHT so many others I’m missing I’m sure

 

It’s a good community we got here (sans a few outliers) and we all just want everyone to have bad ass rigs

 

Couldn’t get my hands on any gas so here is my very first beads with flux core .030 wire. Wow this is fun. I need a slag hammer.

 

So you where forced to use flux after all. lol

I'm not a welder but pretend to be in my garage. My first ever welding was sheet metal work when I tubbed my rig. I borrowed my buddies hobby wedler. That was with .035 flux. It sucked and I pretty much just used 1000 little tacks. I was sure I was the shittiest welder on the planet.

After that I decided to invest in a 220V/180A Mig welder with shielding gas. I had some more sheet metal work to do and got .023 wire on the advice of a buddy. With the gas and thinner wire welding sheet metal became way easier. I still sucked but the proper set-up made it look like I sucked a lot less. Since then I've welded a bunch of other shit on my rig. I've never once thought about breaking out flux core in the garage.

For the field I have a battery weld kit that I threw together. With 2 batteries and 3/32" 6011 rod it's taken care of more then a few trail repairs that otherwise would have left the vehicle on the trail until parts could be gathered.

I do agree that melting two pieces of metal together is fun shit. lol

 

Did a hammer test after welding up a t joint, really gave it some good force bending it both ways, no cracks or failures. LOTS of practice ahead of me and hopefully gas soon

 

Boy oh boy were my settings jacked up yesterday. I used the chart for 14ga but this is 1/8” material. What a difference proper settings make. A ton more wire speed and a little bit more voltage! I’m so hooked. Here are day #2 welds! All of this just flux core .030 wire on short circuit 110

 

Practice practice practice. The chart is a good starting point for sure. I know with my technique I tend to run a little colder and slower wire speed than the chart says most of the time. Not sure if it’s because I’m running off 220 or because I move the gun slower but it works and parts definitely get enough heat

 

Heck yes love that. Will probably give that a try. I am enjoying this so much

 

Boys, we are cookin with fire now! I got a tank of gas for welding. Day #3 picking up the gun went really well. Can’t wait to weld up my @WarFab Armor front chop kit/winch tray. I mocked it up & im happy to cut into my grill if needed for the control box. Here are how the welds went. Harbor freight titanium mig 170! What a sweet little setup this is. No complaints other than the ground clamp a little more to be desired there. Even before I chop the low hanging crossmember this winch will be ultra tucked up front. Super stoked

240v extension cord to dryer
030 solid wire
C25 argon gas running about 20cfh
Whatever recommendations on the welder were for 3/16 steel I used but I slowed down the wire speed just a hair. Man this is a blast.

 

Get to it! @Sixthelement and I will be taking notes as we plan his front chop kit and new bumper build for next month

 

Current situ be patient w me

 

Sweet minimalist bumper. Lol

 

Hurry up!!!!!! Jk

 

More practice, focusing on tighter “e’s” and flatter / more penetration. CANT WAIT TO START WORKING ON MY WINCH TRAY

 

LOVE to see the progression!!! nice work!

 

Pretty cool difference between my stock SOS offroad concepts skid and the @WarFab Armor chop kit skid. So much more aggressive approach angle. Higher and tighter