New Welder - First Welds

admin

I'm using a Lincoln SP-100, .030 flux core. It's connection to a 30Amp, 120 Volt circuit with 10 gauge wire. Test metal is about 1/8" thick maybe a little less.Setting above:C6 , E2 , E3F4, C5E+5, D5E+3 , E+4(E+) is 1/2 way between E and F.E+3, E+4E+5, D5F4, C5C6, E2, E3Open Circuit Voltage Settings:A 11.6vB 14.4vC 16vD 18vE 20.3vF 22.6vG 24.6vH 26.5vI think the burn through is partially due to too much of a gap in the test pieces - I'll fix that in the future. I'm guessing that I should try to keep the voltage setting around E or F and mess around with the wire speed, keeping on my line and staying at the leading edge of the puddle. Does this sound correct?As far as the correct amt of heat goes, am I looking to see a tiny bead on the back side?I'm open to any additional advice to help me get to a point where the welds are half way decent.
Reply:id get a flat piece of plate and just start running beads practice smooth steady speed and start listening for the right sound. out of the machine as you adjust. ul get a good crisp sound when its right. if your machine isnt fully variable on the knobs you can control your heat on the burn thrus sometimes with speed. as you weave if you get to a gap area spend less time were the edges meet and pause a bit more on the outside edges. you can get ur puddle to flow into the gaped area.  p.s. have fun with it lol i do learning is the funnest part! then it becomes work lol!!!
Reply:also steady is important is it possible you paused where u burned thru like to move arms? etc. if u get going and get to wear u need to shift ur a arms or body just lift off learning to tie back into the existing weld is good also.for me i lift off at the outside edge of the weave so i dont tie back in over the joint itself but thats just me and might not be the right way.  im relativly new myself and still learning.
Reply:I had it set on E4 for most of these. I had to move really slow and sometimes had to wait for the puddle to build up. I like the idea of going real slow because it's easier to watch what's happening.  I know that I need to work more on making the welds look better. Is there anything else I should be doing?
Reply:on that last of beads looks a lot better. and looking back at it u can see where you changed speeds. u go from thick wide to really narrow and back but mucho better. next is just start hooking pieces togther lap welds butt welds etc. use basically the same technique ul noticed how ur metal edges burn away faster than the meat. so learn to see where ur heat is building up. keep it up on the meat a bit more. and ul have fewer burn thrus. just hook to pieces together then beat the crap outa it or cut it apart and see how ur penetration went. if its good ur good. if not go slower and get ur puddle to flow into the seam more. " All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream." Edgar Allan Poe