Brand new meat for you guys to laugh at!

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Alright Guys, I decided I wanted to learn to weld so I bought a new welder last week. I took the day off yesterday and wired my garage so I had a dedicated line for it. Today I turned it on for the first time  (and this is the first time i've ever welded.) After you get done laughing at the pics, I was hoping you would give me advice to start improving. I know these pics are terrible so please help. Oh, and why so much spatter? Attached Images
Reply:Actually, the pictures are great!  So, what welder/process/settings were you using?"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Your travel speed id too fast. We'll need to know wire size, gas or FC , material thickness, machine used and settings to give any other information..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:Hi Old, It's a new Miller 211, 75/25 Gas with .035 solid wire. I think the lawn mower blade (Last pic) was set at 6/65 and the angle iron was set at 7/90 and about 6.5/85. angle was 5/16" roughly.
Reply:Now do you really expect us to believe that story Mr. Mossy.These photos that you presented as your alibi are dated from Feb. 2006!Where were you on April 13, 2013 when the crime was committed Mr. Mossy?
Reply:Ha! I can't even get the date right on the camera! Forgot to set it.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWYour travel speed id too fast. We'll need to know wire size, gas or FC , material thickness, machine used and settings to give any other information.
Reply:Thanks guys. I know what I'll be doing after work every night.
Reply:Looks like a good start. To get familiar with actual settings, not just numbers on the dial, you need to figure out how those numbers correlate to quantifiable number. To start with find out the minimum and max voltage available on your dial from the manual. If it is 10volts minimum and 20 max, and your dial is marked 1-10, then each number is an additional volt over 10 volt. Then when you set your wire speed you can pull the trigger, time 6 seconds and stop, then measure the wire that came out and multiply by 10 and that is your inches per minute of actual wire speed. You can then look at at the Miller welding calculator and find out where you really are as far as settings. As far as learning, you will learn far more, and faster, by having someone who know how to weld well come over and show you the ropes.
Reply:I'll do that Walker, Thank you.
Reply:Hey Mossy Se you got it up and running coolOne question above that wasn't answered was what you have the gas set at (regulator on he bottle) the gas is the shield  for the weld to keep contamination from the air from getting into the molten pool.  If your gas is set to low or the wind is blowing it away it will cause holes in your weld and some of the splatter.Also we need to know what wire you are using?  If it is the flux core wire that came with your welder you don't run gas with that wire and it will have a lot of spatter.Also how your + and - wire are hooked up under the door of your welder is determined by the use of solid wire (used with gas) or Flux core wire  all of the info you need is on the chart on the back side of your door.  As mentioned above you should learn the Voltage and wire speed But your welder has Auto Set and for your first little bit you may want to use that just set it to the thickness of mild steel you are using or a little short of that if I remember correctly.  Also mentioned above Mig welder like clean steel.Last thing,  Go to a  website called Welding Tips and Tricks .com and watch some of the Mig Welding Videos he has a lot of great beginner info there I recommend you subscribe to his site it is FreeGood luck and have fun
Reply:Hi JPS, Gas is set at 25. The 2lb. spool that came with my welder is marked solid so I figured it wasn't flux core. Is this incorrect?It's currently hooked up for solid.I'll go to that site and thank you.
Reply:Could be solid  Mine came with Flux core but that was a few years backJoe
Reply:I just checked it is Hobart solid wire.
Reply:Mr. Mossy,I think it would be a good idea if you took a welding class at a local tec school. Trust me it will be money well spent and it will save you many $$$$ down the road. You will also be less likely to give up from frustration if you can't figure out how to lay a nice weld on something.Just a thought !Good luck and have fun.
Reply:Would like to do that but not sure it's offered anywhere close by. We have NMU here in town so I'll check with them. Thanks again all of you.
Reply:Originally Posted by MossyWould like to do that but not sure it's offered anywhere close by. We have NMU here in town so I'll check with them. Thanks again all of you.