Welding Chromoly Frame With Flux Core

[DesmoDog]

This seems to imply less strength.

I'm not looking for an argument either but no, comments on stiffness have nothing to do with strength. Stiffness and strength of a material are not interchangable, one does not follow the other.

4130 chromoly = same strength for less weight. Which includes stiffness and other factors.

No, strength does not include stiffness. A thinner walled chromoly tube will be less stiff than a thicker walled mild steel tube of the same OD. Which doesn't really matter here when we're talking about a first time builder with a flux core welder so I'm not going to go on about it, but you can look it up if you don't believe it.

We're obviously getting way into the weeds here and contrary to how it may appear, I'm not wanting to argue about it either.

The point was to not decide on a material based on probable misconceptions about the benefits a home builder with a flux core welder might see.

 

[SkyknightJohn]

Perhaps I was confusing stiffnes with the modulus of elasticity and yeild strength… mild will deform when 4130 will spring back to shape, at a given force above mild’s yield. That is desireable is some applications, but not the same as stiffness. My brain probably went “doesn’t bend as easily=more stiff.”

Titanium on the other hand…
Also not for the hobbiest or home builder with flux core.

I think we’re all agreed that mild steel is the way to get started for the OP with their setup.