The big difference between a mig welder and a flux core only welder is the control hardware for the gas solenoid. The mig machine will have it and the flux only machine will not.

There might be a difference between the guns, but that is mostly the gas nozzle in the gun. You need it for GMAW but not for FCAW.

Upgrading from a FCAW only welder to GMAW will require buying a new welder. Modifying a FCAW only welder wouldn't be worth the effort.

If money is the issue, it was for me when I got my first welder, check out the welders offered on Amazon. Some of those are surprisingly good quality.

Thank you for the reassurance! Yes, I've already read about the dangers of using FCAW inside, I will be planning to do outside work anyways to repair my car's panel (I know FCAW is highly unideal for it, however it can be done with patience).

I would ask one more. I have seen a lot of welders advertised with MIG Flux specifically, even though they also sell just flux welders too. Is the difference between MIG and MIG Flux is that the default provided gun is either made for GMAW / MIG or FCAW / Flux, or a MIG Flux machine will never be able to do a MIG welding?

Yes, any MIG welder will work in gasless (FCAW) mode. Make sure to read your owners manual on how to change the polarity. Most flux core wires require a reverse polarity from GMAW.

Be aware that flux core welding produces a good deal of smoke and splatter. You will want to weld outside or with the garage door open when welding with flux core.

Not a welder but I’ve done a bit before. Flux core is def more smoky than mig, you could try clearing it with modest airflow from a fan.

Wow, thank you for sharing that perspective.

I never tried any coding agents, but I do use LLMs just like you said - as stack overflow and it helps a lot which is fine, but I remember a year ago or so, I needed a quick javascript script for one time use and I hate javascript. I made chatGPT write the entire thing from start to finish, I didn’t even look at it, it worked fine. I bet the code was probably garbage.

I would often see devs talking about using coding agents that make them more productive. I no longer feel that bad about it actually, because now I hear they’ve relied on it so much, that they’re no longer able to write code themselves, haha.

But initially, all the craze about it did make me feel frustrated and took all the joy out of it. I don’t feel that way anymore though, I am slow compared to someone who just used autocomplete, but I know I’ve written every single line myself while those who just review code that an LLM has written probably haven’t thought about the problem they’re solving as deep as I have, leading to worse decisions in code overall while the code may still technically work.

Everyone that uses LLM assisted programming is much more productive.

Have you seem them being more productive?

Because I haven't. I have seen people producing worse code, and actually taking longer to get into working software. I also can't feel AI is helping me if I try to use coding agents. (I can use them as Stack Overflow, it's just useless to let them touch my code.)

Basically handheld lasers are so good now, they can make full penetration while keeping a very small heat affected zone and with perfect consistency and very fast welding speed and make welds just as clean if not cleaner than TIG.

Right! Thanks for the reassurance! :)

Thank you! I’m determined to keep working hard on learning TIG. I just hope that if some day I decide to look for a new job, TIG is still in demand. From what I’ve read so far, it seems that laser equipment is not as portable which makes it good for manufacturing, but not for working on field. :)

Yes, thinking in a way that you describe does make it better, I should try to change my mindset, thank you! :)

I don't understand why the exclusivity is a factor, but that doesn't mean you're somehow wrong to have that mindset. My own mindset just doesn't jive with that idea.

To draw more parallels between welding and painting, the process may be more accessible now, but you can still make your creations distinctly yours. A master of a craft can leave their mark on even the simplest expressions of their skill. Perhaps that's an angle to take? Develop your own style and expression of your skill. Make the weld itself a part of the beauty of what you've created, not just there to hold it together. While others can make a basic weld with little practice, few if any can make a weld like yours. The stroke of the brush can be just as much a part of the art as the paint it lays down. Maybe getting to that level of skill is enough of a challenge to reignite your enjoyment.

In any case, I do hope you find that spark again.

It’s starting to seem like TIG might get obsolete compared to Laser

It's a different process that has different applications.

Even though MIG and TIG are used today for the majority of jobs, there is still applications where stick or brazing does the job better (or is the only way to get the job done sucessfully).

I know tig, mig, oxy, etc and each has their pros and cons. I’m sure it’s the same for laser welding. It will have its uses for somethings. Don’t let that discourage you. Tig is awesome.

Yes, I agree with you, it doesn’t matter, yet it still makes it less fulfilling knowing that someone else with a laser can do a better job with much less effort.

I’m actually a developer, I love writing code, it’s my greatest passion. When LLMs showed up and for devs writing code using copilot became a thing, I felt the same way. That was such a massive hit to my enjoyment of programming, because it was so much more accessible and people who don’t even understand what they’re doing that well could suddenly write code. Everyone that uses LLM assisted programming is much more productive. And I hate that it’s no longer as hard and challenging as it used to be. This is exactly how I’m feeling about welding now.

It’s the knowing that with my hard work I can achieve what others can’t and that’s what impacts my fulfilment of the work that I do. The harder it is, the more satisfaction I feel.

Way you talk about it, I get the impression that you're taking the class mostly for your own fulfillment, not to get a solid-paying job in the industry. If that's the case, what does it matter if laser welding is the new hotness? Laser welding might be "easier" for a rookie, but does that make your growing skill at TIG welding irrelevant? I wouldn't say so. TIG is still a skill that not many have. Is the classical painter's skill and the beauty of their work reduced by that of the digital artist?

Tig is like an art. I'm not super familiar with laser, but get the impression it is more like mig, rough dirty. Automated stuff is totally different than the typical specialty work you'll use tig for in industry. Though you will use stick with structural the most.

Went to the class. Obviously, 3 hours is wetting my toes, but I wonder why I didn't do it before!

At least I know that I learnt a bit of flat joining and that I would need to learn other techniques for vertical welding, angle welding and others. I hadn't realized there were differences.

I hope others chime in with advice of tips and things to focus on.

Commenting to boost activity.

I'd like to learn too. I took wood and metal shop class in middle school, but not in high school, and I don't remember why. I think if I had, then I would have had the foundation to keep practicing on my own, even though I didn't want to do it for a living.

Same for me, there have been several times in the past when knowing enough to do some basic welding would have been helpful.