Dual Voltage PowerMTS?

[Brian Ski]

I think of flux core as just another tool in the toolbox: if you know going in that it >won't< weld razor blades or even body panels, and that it >will< smoke like a tire fire and have more BBs than a Boy Scout target range, then maybe it will work in your application. It has the ease of MIG and the field-readiness (i.e., harsh conditions) of stick. If you use the wrong tool, like vice grips to turn a bolt, you'll likely round off some edges and possibly FUBAR something pretty badly... but if you need to quickly weld a hinge on a gate, or something where function is more important than appearance, then flux core may work for you.

I understand your thinking. It sounds like you are familiar with a flux core. With my buddy who picked the one up it was the only one he had and I (and him now) really think to wait and get a MIG welder. Most every tool has a purpose.

Years ago we had a truck down (bad water pump). I wanted to wait until the next day when I had my tools with me. The new guy said he could do it. He had pliers and an adjustable wrench. I cussed him every time I ever had to work on that truck again. Pretty much all the bolts were rounded and the sockets never did fit right on them after that.

[DaveO]

It sounds like you are familiar with a flux core.

Mostly the smoke and the BBs! There's also the flux clean up to think about- I practiced some last weekend, and scrubbed with a wire brush to remove flux and still had flux on the weld. I eventually got it fully cleaned up with the wire wheel on my bench grinder. The flux was pretty tenacious.

Years ago we had a truck down (bad water pump). I wanted to wait until the next day when I had my tools with me. The new guy said he could do it. He had pliers and an adjustable wrench. I cussed him every time I ever had to work on that truck again. Pretty much all the bolts were rounded and the sockets never did fit right on them after that.

Isn't that why they call them "water pump" pliers?! Or maybe it should be "mangle your water pump" pliers.