Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I've been welding and fabricating for well over 20 years. Actually have an Associate of Science in welding. I've worked in all kinds of industries from welding on the farm and ranch, to the oil fields to mom and pop shops to custom fab shops to government contractors (Raytheon), NASA projects, WSMR projects, all the way up to high end aircraft repair and fab (Navy). I've been around. I took a leap and made the transition to a white collar career years ago (BSME) so now I am only a hobby welder. In my professional opinion this is pretty dang good wire. It is more than acceptable for any farm or DIY project. I bought this so I could build a pipe fence around my place. One spool lasted for 200 feet of top rail, with posts spaced every 8 feet. The welder I am using is a Millermatic 211 using the MVP plug for 230V. The wire performed very well in all positions including uphill, downhill, and overhead. Here are some tips for novice welders or those who claim to have issues/poor bead appearance with flux core 1.) Make sure your polarity is correct. Flux core requires DCEN (Direct Current Electrode Negative)...which is opposite the polarity that solid wire MIG welding typically uses. If you don't change your polarity, don't blame the wire manufacturer. It's really easy to do. Just read the instructions that came with your machine. 2.) Prep your base metals. If you used a torch to cut your components then take the time to clean ALL the slag off with a chipping hammer and grinder. Trust me, this will pay huge dividends in the appearance of your weld 3.) The better the "fit" between your two pieces, the better your weld will be both from a strength perspective as well as from a cosmetic perspective. Don't obsess about what gap you need for butt joints. If you are a novice then honestly you shouldn't have much of a gap at all, if any. "What if my metal is thick?" you ask. If your metal is thick then bevel the edges rather than using a gap. Reason? Well if you are a novice then you have no business making PJP or CJP structural welds anyway so the topic of a gap or no gap is irrelevant at your current skill and accountability level. A bevel joint will allow good penetration and will provide more surface to "hold" that bead, improving your chances of a visually pleasing weld bead. It will also be stronger than a tight butt joint with no gap and no bevel. 4.) Take the time to grind/clean up the metal in and around the joint you are welding. lightly grind a strip about 1/2" in width, down to clean metal, from the edge of the joint and along the full length of the joint. Yes, fluxcore is a little more forgiving than solid MIG wire with regard to "dirty" base metal, however, don't be lazy. Invest the time. A little cleanup goes a long way. If you take your time and follow steps 1-4 you'll be a better welder before you know it. Although I have lost some flexibility in my welding hand due to a shattered wrist years ago, with this wire you can make good welds. Even on used oilfield pipe. I have attached some pictures of what you can expect with this wire.