welding advice

[JerryFlyGuy]

Flux core is overkill for all general purpose welding. My weld shop is CWB certified and generally we only use flux core on heavey plate requiring high strength applications. <snip>

Are you using sheilding gas? You can get away without it with fluxcore but it is still better to use it. <snip>

but fluxcore is higher penetrating. <snip>

DareBee, you've got me confused. I was always under the impression that fluxcore wire was used in lue of shielding gas. I've always worked w/ it under the understanding that when working in the open [ outside in the wind] that fluxcore was better because it protected the weld better. Shielding gas will blow away in the slightest breeze. If you don't use fluxcore and no gas then your welds won't be worth crap due to oxidation and porosity.

As far as higher penitration or the need to use it on heavyer plate, this is news to me. We too are CWB cert'd and don't use it simply because you can generally make better welds w/ gas, we use both Blue Shield and Argon depending on the job and parameters.
Please expand on this so I can better understand. I don't claim to be a great welder but I'm learning....

<edit> I did some more checking and DareBee, your entirely correct! The fluxcore is better at penetrating the heavyer welds. What had me confused was that none of the guy's here use Fluxcore on their heavy welds. The reason being is they use Metalcore which has even better penetration. It still needs a simple shielding gas [ I think it's CO2]. I'm learning!

Sorry if the above sounded like I was contradicting you.. It wasn't intended that way