First Stainless Beads...

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I decided to practice some stainless, well I took some pics of my first two beads of stainless EVER!!!  LOL...   but in all seriousness I think they turned out ok...First Bead...Side ViewColor Can't really see in that picture for some reason, but it has that "bluish/purple gold" tintSecond Bead..FrontSideColor..Tell me what you all think. Thoughts, suggestions, input, slander, jokes.. LOL  Just looking to learn as much as possible, and I know the best way for me to learn is to surround my self with the best, and just absorb it all in. One day I will be consistant and good till then, practice, practice, practice, practice, and maybe some practice... It is tiring and rhetorical, but it is the truth, you just can't be great overnight...  ( but sure would be nice )
Reply:What process? Stick, MIG, TIG? Probably should not bother posting pics as blurry as some that you put up.Airco 300 squarewaveMig welding center...Powcon sm300/LN 25Powcon sm200/PD lHypertherm PM 1100Miller AEAD 200LE W/LN25 FCand now another sm200 pd l combo.
Reply:Sorry, GTAW 308 3/32
Reply:Looks nice, Smokeshow.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I would be happy with that, no expert tho...Airco 300 squarewaveMig welding center...Powcon sm300/LN 25Powcon sm200/PD lHypertherm PM 1100Miller AEAD 200LE W/LN25 FCand now another sm200 pd l combo.
Reply:I am not an expert, but from the photos the bead looks a little small for the material.  How thick is the material you are welding?Build a Barstool Racer at BarFlyRacers.com!
Reply:Here is a pic with a pencil to kind of give an idea of the size of bead...
Reply:1/4 metal, bead is 7/32 so yes in all reality it is probably small.
Reply:Thanks guys!!!  I am working on it.... still learning daily.....
Reply:Originally Posted by smokeshowThanks guys!!!  I am working on it.... still learning daily.....
Reply:Yes, mild steel.  And I would if I had some.  I have heard that a lot of people don't use much stainless filler on stainless, they just fuse it.  But I would like to learn to do both.
Reply:It just depends on the joint setup that dictates if you can just weld it with or without filler. Welding low carbon steel with stainless filler is not the same as welding ss with stainless filler. You might as well just be using ms filler. Corner joint, lap joints, and edge joints can usually be done w/o filler on ss. Try to get some SS and it will weld totally different than what you did today. --Gol'
Reply:looks reay niceChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I give it a thumbs up..For now..Like Go1lum stated..Try some real stainless and then we'll see.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:now run a bead without walking the cup.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:the puddle for stainless is about half the size of mild steel, tough to see, and tough to get the filler into the leading edge of the puddle (at least for me, but my vision isnt the greatest)as others said, get some stainless base metal and see how much it will distort compared to mild steel.  Try some sheet metal, if you can weld sheet metal correctly, plate will be a breeze...
Reply:Pictures were kind of fuzzy, but for the first time, I'd say you're doing great.  Keep it up.I r 2 a perfessional
Reply:Thanks guys, for both the criticism and the comments.  It lets me know I am improving, but yet have much more room to improve.  If I can get my hands on some stainless I will be more than happy to try my hand at it...Side note, yes I do walk the cup as much as possible.  I do not see a reason not to do it if I can.  I usually can run a few beads without having to free hand it, but from then on it's free hand.