Tried that new flux-core wire on a stainless job and it was a mess

I grabbed a spool of that dual-shield flux-core from the welding supply last week, figured it would save me some time on a 3/8 stainless tank repair. Turned out the slag was way harder to chip off than I expected, and I burned through two grinding wheels just cleaning up the beads. In my experience, stick with the solid wire and gas for stainless unless you really like extra cleanup. Anybody else had a bad run with flux-core on the wrong metal?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_fiona1mo ago

Gotta disagree respectfully - I've had way better luck with flux-core on stainless than solid wire with gas. The slag comes off clean if you keep your travel speed steady and don't let that puddle get too wide.

jamie_webb671mo ago

Dual shield burns hot and that stainless warps like crazy, try a 309L stick rod next time.

brianreed1mo ago

Nah stick rods on thin stainless is asking for even MORE warpage.