Small splatters, soot, and what looks like a skid mark.

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Hello welders,This is my first crack at welding and am using this little machine: http://www.homedepot.com/buy/lincoln...l#BVRRWidgetIDI have simply tried to run a bead on a piece of steel, but all I end up with is something like you see here.I'm not one to normally post questions to a forum, but I've spent several hours already (unsuccessfully) searching for a similar problem. I have also adjusted my voltage, slowed down/sped up my wire feed, moved my ground around, and loosened/tightened the wire spring. I mean forget about sticking metal together, I can't even get something that remotely resembles a bead. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Reply:Might try taking a picture of your actual weld and posting on this site. I can't see a picture in your link, and don't have a yahoo acct to sign in to see it.
Reply:Gas or flux core wire?  If flux core, make sure electrode is negative....if using shielding gas, electrode positive.
Reply:+1 also it makes you open a Flickr account and then says the photo is locked= useless
Reply:Ok attached a pic. I'm using a gas-less flux core only machine (at least I believe it is). Attached Images
Reply:Post up as much info as possible. Machine settings ( voltage and wire speed), wire size and type, Material thickness and so on. Also how far away is the tip of the gun from the material? My 1syt thought is you may have the gun too far away. You want the gun maybe 3/8" from the work. You need to "wait" until the puddle builds up before moving as well. With FC remember a lot of what you see is the flux. It takes a bit to learn what is steel and what is flux.If you are serious about wanting to learn, you might look into taking a night class at a local votech school or community college. When you add up what it will cost you in materials, gas, wire, electric, not to mention the instruction, a class is usually stupid cheap. Around me it breaks down to roughly $10-15 per hour of class time for all the materials you can use in class. I often wonder how the school manages to break even. It's often easier to figure out issues when you watch someone weld than it is in type and with picts. I'm betting your issue is minor and related to technique. A few minutes with someone who can weld and I bet you see a marked improvement.You might also want to take a minute and add your location to your User CP at the top left so we know where you are at. You might find someone here who is local and willing to help you learn.Good luck..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Aside from looking too cold, it looks like you dragged the wire across like striking a match or had 2" of stick out.Did you read the Learning How To Weld section of the unit manual?http://www.lincolnelectric.com/asset...ln3/imt768.pdfMM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:The Lincoln Electric Weld Pack HD Feed Welder has only 2 voltage settings and 2 settings for "fine-tuning" the voltage. The wire speed has 10 levels. I've tried all the different combinations and also have experimented with gun angle, distance from weld, and length of wire extruding from the tip. I'm pretty much getting the same sorry results each time.Also, as far as I can tell you cannot reverse the polarity on this machine.
Reply:Does the wire feed smoothly without trying to weld?MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55Does the wire feed smoothly without trying to weld?
Reply:Can you do a short video clip?MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Of the welding or the wire feed?
Reply:Originally Posted by AKmudGas or flux core wire?  If flux core, make sure electrode is negative....if using shielding gas, electrode positive.
Reply:Thanks for everybody's input.Well I went back to see if I could get a decent video, but discovered in the process that I was going way too FAST. I mean it ain't pretty but it's welded (see pic).It may be just me, but the youtube videos you watch make it seem like the welder's pace is much speedier than it actually is. Does a higher powered machine allow you to weld faster? Attached Images
Reply:when you open up the panel, do you see two studs with wingnuts inside and one is labelled + and one is labelled - ? You would have to swap the cables to change polarity. But usually  a lincoln unit without a gas solonoid already has the polarity set. And as for a higher amperage machine, yes. You can go faster.  But as with anything, you should learn the basics first. There are optimum settings for weld wire feed speed, voltage, travel speed. I usually tend to drag slag. Meaning that when I am welding from left to right, my gun is still pointed left but I am progressing to the right in travel.Lincoln Power Mig 210MP MIGLincoln Power Mig 350MP - MIG and Push-PullLincoln TIG 300-300Lincoln Hobby-Weld 110v  Thanks JLAMESCK TIG TORCH, gas diffuser, pyrex cupThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 101My brain
Reply:No there isnt anything inside to adjust neg/pos. I was just asking about going faster out of curiousity. After actually making a weld i think it'll just take pratice from now on...
Reply:Originally Posted by bindslindOf the welding or the wire feed?
Reply:The weldpak HD made in Poland for Lincoln. Is a Flux-core only welder.Manual states it is only 1/8 inch and smaller welder.Its only a 70 amp welderOpen the cover a look at the chart. set the welder up for the correct size metal and move slowly. Back step over what was just heated up for a second quick pass. 1/4 forward 1/4 back 1/2 forward, 1/4 back ect.Make the puddle form on the back step. The first past just preheats the metal and lays down a small amount of metal. Use a tight oval pattern.
Reply:Originally Posted by ccawgcThe weldpak HD made in Poland for Lincoln. Is a Flux-core only welder.Manual states it is only 1/8 inch and smaller welder.Its only a 70 amp welderOpen the cover a look at the chart. set the welder up for the correct size metal and move slowly. Back step over what was just heated up for a second quick pass. 1/4 forward 1/4 back 1/2 forward, 1/4 back ect.Make the puddle form on the back step. The first past just preheats the metal and lays down a small amount of metal. Use a tight oval pattern.