1st post for a newbie. Re; Fusing or glueing?

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Hi,I'm a newbie and just recently bought a 115v 90Amp flux wire welder from Harbor freight for a  project that I would like to start. Although new to wire feed, I have done a very small amount of Oxy/Acet welding and brazing. With the torch the fusion process was very apparent while viewing the puddle as both pieces glowed. I can't see a puddle with this wire feed and although I can get a bead, there isn't any penetration and the weld fails when I test it with the hammer. The bead on both pieces of steel is easily separated. The material is 1/8" steel plate that I'm pracitising on and some threads I've read indicated that this welder should be capable of welding this thickness. Fact is , when practising running beads, at one point I must have been going too slow because the welder burned clear thru the steel. The way I'm setting the pieces up is, the bottom piece is flat side down on the work surface. The second piece is on edge across the bottom piece so as to form a 90 degree angle. I'm trying to point the tip directly into the "V" of the two pieces and weld across them. During this time I can't see any puddle and the bead just forms on top of the steel. Am I going too fast?Any suggestions would be appreciated.Thanks,Ken
Reply:Pictures would help us help you.Millermatic 200Hobart Handler 120Victor O/A & Ramco BandsawLincoln 225 ACSnapOn AD HoodMiller XMT304/22AHypertherm Powermax 1650 G3Lincoln Idealarc DC600 w/Extreme 12 VSMiller Digital Elite "Joker"
Reply:you might want to go look at a few videos on welding with wire feed welder/mig tips and tricks is a good one to watch what you are trying to weld is called a fillet weld --you will need to manipulate the puddle from piece to pieceyou may have to tilt your head to see puddle or hold gun at a slight angle watching the vids will let you see what puddle is to look like start out just running stringers to learn control  then  other types of joints lapp,butt,filletthe FC wire from HF is not the best of quality wire lincoln,hobart wire is a lot better a fillet is this tuffer of most to learn next to pipe/tube weldingLast edited by prop-doctor; 11-26-2011 at 08:21 PM.idealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Thank you guys, I'll look at the vids
Reply:Practice doing a flat weld first. Concentrate on on seeing the puddle and the metal flowing together. It is very easy to just stack filler wire on the base metal without actually fusing it when making a fillet. ZPersonally I find that the cheaper flux core/migs are more difficult to use than a quality machine. The cheaper machines tend to have 1 or 2 sweet spots on the wire speed and voltage which may or may not be suitable for the metal that you're working with.Tough as nails and damn near as smart