Quote Originally Posted by 6poundtest View Post
Slab, do yourself a favor and get a machine with a gas solenoid. Flux core can be very particular about it's voltage/amperage curve, wire feed speed and stickout length and travel speed. I use it when I have to in the field but in the shop there are better choices.
A solid wire with a gas shielding will make a welder out of just about anyone. Less spatter and easier to dial in. Of course, one should always clean the weld area well of contaminants like rust and paint, that goes without saying. Flux core has a tendency for porosity and poor quality welds, in my opinion. Solid wire in the smaller sizes like .025 and .030 is usually more economical than a flux core of the same size. Yes, you have the cost of a shielding gas but to me, it's well worth it for better performance and less cleanup of the weld area after.
Are there different gasses, if so, which? thanks