Can you use flux core wire in an old gas mig welder?

[cant_arc_weld]

G'day All,

My question is pretty self explanatory given the title of the thread. I was wondering if anyone has tried using flux core wire in an old gas mig welder without gas. If so, did it work?

I can't see why it wouldn't work.

[LordBug]

As long as you can reverse the polarity, don't see why it wouldn't work either.

[Stringy]

Yes. You need to change the +ve lead that connects to the handpiece conduit mounting block over to the work lead and vice versa.

[cant_arc_weld]

Can I ask a stupid question?

Why do you need to reverse the polarity? An arc is an arc; isn't it? Does it really matter which way the current is flowing?

[RustyArc]

Polarity changes the direction of electron flow in the arc (from -ve to +ve) and thus where the heat is. For gas you run handpiece positive which puts the heat in the wire, for gasless it's handpiece negative which puts the heat in the work.