2024-07-09
Flux-Cored Welding: The Basics for Mild Steel
Self-shielded flux-cored welding is a wire welding process in which a continuous hollow wire electrode is fed through the welding gun into the weld joint. It differs from MIG welding in that it doesn’t require an external shielding gas, such as carbon dioxide or argon, to protect the weld pool from contamination. Instead, a flux compound contained within the wire reacts with the welding arc to form a gas that protects the weld pool. Another process, gas-shielded flux-cored welding, does require a shielding gas. It’s often used in heavy-duty industrial fabrication and manufacturing and is not typically recommended for beginner and hobbyist applications.