Welding pads with 6013?

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I'm new to welding so I'm on my first project  wich is a 6013 pad on a 3x5 inch piece of  10 gauge.  First we run  stringer beads one way they we add layers going the opposite way.              My first layer goes great but my 2nd layer is not so good . I seem to be underfilling and leaving slag  pockets. After thinking about it I was wondering if I should have turned up the amperage  now the material is thicker?
Reply:Depends what amps you are running already.Good chance you just are not watching the puddle fill evenly and consistently even though the surface isn't flat.And/or you may be long arcing when there is a low spot.Any of these ring a bell based on what you saw while running them?I run them hot enough for the flux to lightly touch while I weld.I do the same for 7014 and 7018.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:It helps to give all the info at the beginning when asking for help. Amps, rod size, AC or DC... Picts also tell us a lot you may not be aware of.Typically rods of a given size run best within a limited range on amps. You can go up and down a bit on amperage to deal with thinner material, but amps usually don't change much. One thing that may be changing is your arc length. If your 1st cover passes are like mountains and valleys, your arc length will change each time your base material goes up and down. This makes your next passes all that much tougher to do well. If the beads are overlapped well and the top surface is small hills or almost smooth, things get a whole lot easier.Many times I send a student over to grind down the tops of a pad so they have a better surface to deal with. Slag pockets left from previous beads also cause issues. I've seen plenty of students who just want to weld over anything and everything and that just doesn't work.Post up  some decent picts of what you are working with and your settings and we can help point you in the right direction..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Step 1 throw away the 6013Step 2 go get some 6011 and 7018Step 3 get good with 7018 and 6011