Practice Welds

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okay... i ran out of my first spool of wire tonight... i feel sad cuz there's no place around to go get another spool right now. i think i'll be getting an 8" spool tomorrow. any size recommendations? it jsut has to be flux-cored since i don't have the $$$ to get the MIG gas yet. here's the first picture of welds i've ever posted up here. the picture turned out like poo, but i'll try to retake it and get up some more so they can turn out clearly. http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/inde...ageID=16005209try to tell me if you can notice anything i need to change, or something i can improve on. i knwo they are no where near what they can be / should be, but i think i am going to be taking my first welding class next semester at community college. i can't afford the better classes yet. anyway, these were made on the max amp setting (D) on my LE 100HD with about 3-3.5 for the wire feed (is that fpm or ipm? i have no clue). it is .035 flux-core with no sheilding gas. i tried to clean them up as best as possible, but i was trying to use a screwdriver and hammer and jsut got sick of it. i think i'm going to be getting one of the air-needlers pretty soon. I changed my dad's brakes on his excursion last weekend and figured some spare metal wouldn't hurt to have laying around to practice on, so those are, or at least were, his back rotors.enjoy!AndyP.S. I know that i posted this in another forum, but i thought it might get some more views in here too. i need as many tips as i can get... such as how do you get rid of craters at the end of a flux-core weld? note the pin-hole at the end (bottom) of the longest continuous weld (the bent one). all those welds were made from top fo picture to bottom of picture in a flat position.
Reply:Linky no worky.
Reply:sorry. let's try to straight upload one... here we go...
Reply:As an extreme amateur myself, I cannot add too much - - they look ok to me.All I can say is I think that brake rotor is done, unless you don't mind some serious brake pedal shudder...Weekend MigBackyard MechanicWelder: DECASTAR 150E, Wire Feed w/ Gas Potential (not currently using gas)
Reply:A couple of the welds look OK.  You shouldn't expect too much from the little 100 on 110V.  Why didn't you clean up the surface with your 41/2" grinder?Your manual should have a wire/thickness/amp guide for size matching to the material you'll be working with.  My guess would be .025 to .030 FC wire.On my HH140, I run .030 and .035 solid and/or FC depending on what I'm doing, material thickness, outdoors/indoors, gas or not.  Don't waste your time with the small rolls though, get a 10# if it fits.Hobart 140 Handler w/ gasHyperTherm Powermax 380 Plasmaoxy/acetylene