My first weld

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Well, here's a pic of my first MIG welds with my LE SP-125 Plus. By the time I had everything set up, double-checked and read through the manual for, like, the thirtieth time to make sure I wasn't missing anything critical, it was pretty late last night. But, I decided to squirt down a couple of beads just to try it out before heading off to to bed.Thinking about it after, I wasn't close enough in to really see what was happening and can clearly see my work surface needs to be raised up about 6-10". Also, the machine settings were based on the chart on the welder (I had it at E-7) based on the metal I was working on but may have needed some adjustment. Any feedback is appreciated. I was using 0.024" ER70S-6 on 2mm mild steel with C-25 at ~20-25 cfh.Some questions:1. I have an AD helmet with a range of darkness settings from 9-13. First off, what does the 'DIN' of these settings mean? Second, I had it set at 11, but mainly because it was the middle setting than for any other reason. Was this too dark? I had trouble seeing where I was going - I could see the arc but not a whole lot else.2. How close down in should I nean? I'm pretty sure I was too far back.3. I was avoiding touching the workpiece or the table but can see that I'm going to need to steady myself way more to get something more approaching a straight line and maintain a constant WSO. Can I actually lean on the work table or workpiece to steady myself?4. It wasn't as straight forward as I expected pointing the ~3/4" wide end gun end at where I wanted to weld. The wire just didn't hit where I expected - any suggestions on how to better estimate that?5. I don't have a welding cap - do I need one? What exactly do they do?Last and not least, I have to take my hat off to welders. Reading and watching videos as I have done up to this point, it looked fairly straight forward. It's a lot harder than it looks to get that smooth, flat, straight weld you've got in your mind's eye.Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:Originally Posted by Roland Coppens... I had everything set up, double-checked and read through the manual for, like, the thirtieth time to make sure I wasn't missing anything critical...
Reply:Wow! Your responses are always well-thought, well-written, valued and exceptionally helpful. Thanks for taking the time to provide so much feedback!I'll try what you've suggested & keep posting.Thanks.Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:You did not give yourslf a fair chance.To do a proper test of your machine settings and skill. Make a groove joint.a welding coupon.Take two plates the same size and make a slight bevel on the long edge of one side of each plate. Tack the ends together so that the bevel edges are facing each other and then run the bead down that groove. See what i mean?
Reply:I do - thanks Don. I was under the impression that welding on a flat place was the crawling before the walking (now that I'm thinking about it, I can't think if I'd read it somewhere or if this just my own impression).No harm in trying though. Plus, it strikes me that fit-up practice is just as important, so why not.Thanks for the suggestion!Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:I do - thanks Don. I was under the impression that welding on a flat place was the crawling before the walking (now that I'm thinking about it, I can't think if I'd read it somewhere or if this just my own impression).No harm in trying though. Plus, it strikes me that fit-up practice is just as important, so why not.Thanks for the suggestion!Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away. And you have their shoes.Roland
Reply:Well you did the best thing you could do, ASK A QUESTION. Some people are too afraid to speak up and ask, but as I tell the new guys, the only dumb question is the one not asked. If you don't know, you need to know, and if I don't know, then I need to learn that answer as well.I started similar to you, I got an old fender from a wrecked truck, I ran some beads on flat metal, easy no big deal, now cut that metal and try to join it back together, thats another story altogether. But thats the intrigue of welding. Since I've been welding I've welded on a car, made an awning frame, a welding cart, a plant stand on wheels from an old desk chair base, and several other lil things that I wanted to tinker on, lol. Stick with it and remember, HAVE FUN with it.