rookie MIG welder with first post

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So I debated what sub category to post under for my first thread, but decided this area suited it the best.Quickly about me, 28 year old from NH. very hands on personality. I went to a vocational school for automotive, but did a 2 week session in welding where I learned some basics. I also took a manufacturing process class for my engineering degree where I did some more but basic welding.  Since then I have done smaller jobs (MIG) with my friends little 110v machines, both flux and MIG.Now about my machine. Its a unknown age Lincoln SP-200 MIG welder that I picked up last month.  It worked when I got it, but I have replaced the liner, nozzle, tip and cut out a Mickey mouse power cord.  My next plan is to rebuild the welding cart, and give the machine a good cleaning inside and outMy next step was getting a bottle of Co2 filled. I will eventually do a more conventional MIG gas 75/25 but I had an old bottle of Co2 kicking around. I started practicing, again I have some education, and even some experience but not nearly enough. My biggest problem was the whole fine voltage which just seamed to add more complexity.This thin gauge (0.050) was proving to be a bit tricky.  I then practiced on slightly thicker material with better success (sorry no photos). I then went ahead and started on my first real project.  A rear weight bracket for my little Cub Cadet 107 tractor.And here is some of the better welds from that project, some of these were tacked first which is why the weld changes mid way throughI also made some new feet for the plowSo this thicker mild steel (0.150 - 0.250) I feel like my welds are ok. I probably need to fine tune my fine voltage and wire speed a bit more, and work on my consistency some more.  I will then start getting to some thiner material (auto body stuff)Open to comments and criticismLincoln SP-200
Reply:looks good to me, especially the last picture.
Reply:Thats a good machine, evident by the welds you made.
Reply:Very good results, especially that you are a short timer and using CO2 gas, just think of the results when you switch to C25. You may want to use smaller tics or grind them down some so that they blend in better.
Reply:Nice welds,at first all I saw was, old welder, old mower, old scrap metal.............. NEW tires, NEW chains.(lol)There was even an older floor jack in there, craftsman 3 1/2 ton I believe? SQUARE WAVE 175 TIG   DUAL MIG 151
Reply:That's a cool machine! ...the welder. I'm sure the tractor is cool too. "Hey, where'd that smiley come from?"Last edited by tanglediver; 02-15-2010 at 02:38 AM.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:thanks for the commentsI included some of the photos of the tractor, because sometimes just a thread full of welds gets a little repetitive, its sometimes nice to see what the welds are creating.As for the Tires, not new, actually I think they are OEM to the tractor (1971) but yea the chains are newI really like the welder, now I just need to buy some more mild steel so I can make some more stuff Next on the agenda is rebuilding the cart the welder is on, and then a welding table.Lincoln SP-200
Reply:Great machine, both tractor & welder. Weight bucket will help a great deal.The tires rear tires are NOT oem, the fronts could be