Newbie help with beads etc

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Finally got my hands on some good scraps. Until now, I was using pieces that had crap on them and it seemed to be effecting the welds. Now I can actually look at the welds and know that it's all user error and figure out what I am doing wrong. I am using .035 Innershield wire (same as FC, I assume), with the MIG in my sig. I was using the 110v plug so it maxed out at 140 amps, and had it between H and I (About 80-90% power). Wire speed was at about 2. About half way through, I discovered the wire was getting pinched, and once I fixed that, the welding seems slightly smoother. So, right off the bat, I am obvious inconsistent. I am still learning how to hold steady. Couple times I noticed that I didn't even have a puddle and I was going too fast. I also noticed that I have a lot of heavy splatter, but no matter what I did, I couldn't fix that. This is my first attempt at a joint. This first one I am clearly not pulling high enough and gravity got the best of it. This was a better attempt at getting the weld higher, but it's lacking filler. Any idea how to improve this one? I appear to have used to wide and fast of a "stroke", but wondering if there is more to it that I am missing. Lincoln Dual 180 Power MIG
Reply:Pretty awful.Innershield is self shielding flux core.You're whipping.  Don't whip flux coreDrag it, and stay at the face of the puddle.  If you ever go back into the puddle, you'll have a real messPull the gun towards you, gentle side to side motion, and STAY AHEAD OF THE PUDDLE.  Gotta remember that Innershield is a fast freeze wire, you can never go back into the puddle"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Pretty awful.Innershield is self shielding flux core.You're whipping.  Don't whip flux coreDrag it, and stay at the face of the puddle.  If you ever go back into the puddle, you'll have a real messPull the gun towards you, gentle side to side motion, and STAY AHEAD OF THE PUDDLE.  Gotta remember that Innershield is a fast freeze wire, you can never go back into the puddle"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thanks. You could have gone a little easier on me with that first comment though. :/ I am going off of nothing here. For someone that has never touched a welder before, is it this bad based on what I am using? Just tell me how to fix it, that's all I need to hear.Lincoln Dual 180 Power MIG
Reply:I have a tendancy to run too hot, and too fast, with wire.  Mainly because I hate it.  And I just want to get it done.Here's a couple of short welds.  Simple drag, with some side to side motion to tie the toes.It should sorta look like a 7018 weld in a way.  Wire isn't my thing anywaysLast edited by farmersamm; 11-04-2014 at 12:17 AM.Reason: spelling"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Told you how to fix it, and showed what it should look like.With a small machine, using .030, or .035, wire.....keep stickout to maybe 1/4-3/8".  Run as hot as you can.  Don't let the puddle build, just keep ahead of it, AND DON['T WHIP"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:pics didn't go thruAttachment 894151"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:A nicer one when I was having a better dayI'm not dickin with ya, just trying to show you how it's doneLast edited by farmersamm; 11-04-2014 at 12:37 AM."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Don't take it too bad. Everybody is awful at first.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:I keep getting invalid attachment. I understand. I just need all the help I can get. The "Pretty awful" part rubbed me the wrong way. I clearly have no idea what I am doing, other than having a basic understanding how to operate the machine. I want to at least get some of the basics down before investing in a tank and gas and another spool of wire. Believe it or not, this is better than my first welds too. Almost all of the instruction I am finding online is for gas, so I am clearly making a lot of mistakes using the wrong info.Lincoln Dual 180 Power MIG
Reply:Was down where K'kins works a few weeks back.I usually go down to the shop when she says it's ok.We were talking about stuff, and the subject turned to our aches, pains, eyesight, etc............K'kins finally heads out the door, we can go to lunch now.Asks me what we talked about down there.  Me, Billy, and Rusty.  "Nothin babe, just talking about the effects of aging""So you guys were having a pity party huh??"She has a way of cutting to the boneAnyways.............don't put it up, ask for opinions, then throw a tizzy"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:If you can run from 220VAC, do it. 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:Originally Posted by farmersammAnyways.............don't put it up, ask for opinions, then throw a tizzy
Reply:Anything but 6010, and you want to strive to make it look like a MIG weld.  7018, Innershield.............. The skill, and all the practice is to make it look smoooooooth.  It translates to very sound welds, and some nice pats on the back from yourselfI respond to 1 in maybe 50 "analyze my welds" posts, and this is the reason why."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Pull the gun, don't whip (moving the gun back into the puddle), and move gently from side to side.  WTF more do ya want.You need to take a look at Chucky Cheez, or one of those dooods.  They make entertaining videos"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverIf you can run from 220VAC, do it.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammPull the gun, don't whip (moving the gun back into the puddle), and move gently from side to side.  WTF more do ya want.You need to take a look at Chucky Cheez, or one of those dooods.  They make entertaining videos
Reply:You'll get it with practice.Little hint......if you're using a variable welding shade, turn it up to around 11.  It will help to kill the flare from the arc when using flux core.  The flare will drown out the puddle, at least for me it does.  Flux core can be very bright close up, but it's not a good bright.  It kills your view of the puddle.Speaking of puddles,,,,,,,,,,form a puddle, and drag it along.  Just keep the wire at the very leading edge of the puddle, angle the gun towards the puddle to keep it from overrunning you, and keep moving with a steady drag"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Thanks. Sounds simple enough. Seems like I was over working it and it's way less complicated than I was making it.Lincoln Dual 180 Power MIG
Reply:Steve moves through A LOT of information VERY FAST.  I had his entire collection on DVD. Revisit his videos often as you are learning.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