very new to welding

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I am practicing angle welds on 1/4 steel and it seems like my mig welds are sitting kind of high. Is there a way to check for penetration or maybe there is some advice out there. Im using 180 lincoln mig welder with .035 wire.
Reply:Originally Posted by harvdog31I am practicing angle welds on 1/4 steel and it seems like my mig welds are sitting kind of high. Is there a way to check for penetration or maybe there is some advice out there. Im using 180 lincoln mig welder with .035 wire.
Reply:sounds like your running too cold, hard to tell without seeing the the actual weld though!millermatic 200 millermatic 150miller bluestar 2Epurox / oxweld O/A
Reply:If i cross section the weld what should it look like/how deep the penetration?
Reply:if you are  welding 1/4" metal you  want a 1/4" bead  .so if you weld a butt joint togetehr and cut through it  it should look like continuous 1/4" plate...
Reply:it doesnt look like what you describe. can i weld the other side of the joint to "complete the weld? sorry guys, i have spent alot time on here and really enjoy welding. I am learning so any input will help greatly.
Reply:pictures will help a lot.
Reply:k will work on that.
Reply:lets differentiate between lack of penetration and multiple inclusions. if you cut through a weld and it is very porous, full of slag and black voids, thats one thing. if you have a good clean bead of metal that is continuous with the parent metal  but  not as thick as the parent metal, thats a better thing.
Reply:Originally Posted by harvdog31I am practicing angle welds on 1/4 steel and it seems like my mig welds are sitting kind of high. Is there a way to check for penetration or maybe there is some advice out there. Im using 180 lincoln mig welder with .035 wire.
Reply:so stick with self sheilded?
Reply:or can i weld both sides
Reply:Originally Posted by harvdog31so stick with self sheilded?
Reply:Originally Posted by harvdog31or can i weld both sides
Reply:If 1/4" is what you intend to weld mostly with the mig, you should upgrade to a 250 amp machine.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op