ARC Welding AMP Question

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Last night was my first night in my ARC 2 welding class.  The project was an overhead lap weld on 5 3/8" mild steel plates, using 6010.    The specs in the manual called for amps to be set to 100-105.   Just for grins I went ahead and pulled a couple of pieces of scrap metal out and set the amps at 100,  just to see if I could control it.  Of course it was a failure,  for me at least.  I had no control of the puddle,  I had blow out, just a total mess.   Just like in ARC 1,  I ignored the specs in the manual,  lowered the amps to 70-75 and got to work.  It took me a couple of passes before I got my rythm back,  but overall everything turned out ok.  I'm just wondering what's the deal with the 100-105 amps in the manual?  In the real world is this the standard amps for structural welding?  Am I hurting my skill level by working at 70-75 amps?
Reply:helps if you tell us the dia. of the electrode.
Reply:Originally Posted by ChamferTrodehelps if you tell us the dia. of the electrode.
Reply:Typically 1/8" 6010 likes 75-130 amps. So, adjusting your base amperage was the correct thing to do in this situation. The book probably references the general guideline of 1 amp per .001" thickness in material. Again, it's only a guide, adjust as necessary. John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Stated amperages are only guidelines  it's up to the weldor to adjust the machine.  all machines are different.  As John said, you did the right thing.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Overhead I use lower amps - at least when I was learning.  Then as I did it more and more I could start turning the amps up and running a faster bead.  I always like to start something new with low amps then turn them up and increase my travel speed after I'm comfortable with it.Heh, I remember my first time at work welding thin square tubing (mig) - I was only used to thick plate before that.  I turned the wire speed right down to like 200 because I was burning through like crazy.  After a couple months I'd run the machine at 650-700IPM and just fly through it.So that what I always do... start real low, get comfortable, then keep upping the amps bit by bit."A winner isn't someone who doesn't lose, a winner is someone who doesn't quit."