Welding school test plate

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Well, I've finished my third week of welding school, I finished the first part in a day and a half (3rd class welder - T joints flat, vert, and overhead w/6010), it took a few days to get used to 6011 roots with a 6027 cover (flat).   I made a test plate for it, took another day to learn and do a test plate with 5/64" NR-305 wire, and both of them passed visual and X-ray.  I don't know which certifications I got, but it's far enough so I'm a 2nd class welder here.  So then I start with 6010 again, doing vertical root & 1 cover, and overhead root and 2 cover passes.  I've been doing pretty well in practice, but I've had problems getting a test plate done, the rod will arc out the side on vertical, or I'll get a burning piece of slag to fall into the fold of my leathers and burn my arm, or...etc.I finally got a test plate done I'm proud of: Attached ImagesPatrickLincoln 175HD
Reply:haha nice "Ask not for whom the bone bones, it bones for thee" - Bender
Reply:You just gave me an idea for my next cert test trophy..........(having a hard time with totally different test...so I feel your frustration.)Good jobThat is more than hilarious  weld it like you own it
Reply:Ha ha ha!!  That's way funny!***Stick welding like, woah.***
Reply:Some swear by it, some swear at it.  David Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Hey you can put down 6010/11's all you want - but when it comes to their fast freezing weld pools on overhead, you'll learn to like 'em!!  .. and all that smoke running them on AC too huh?  'Doesn't get better than that!!!... oh and not to mention you need to go ape-shEET with the hammer and brush to get that slag off.  not like 6013 or 7018 where it's one tape and it falls off in one piece.  I take it that since you're using different rods for root and fill that your roots are open root right?6010/11 is good for open root.  Since the puddle cools quickly you don't get the burn-through holes that are more common with a 7018 root.  (although with 7018 root  I use almost no gab and a thicker landing on my bevels).Good luck!"A winner isn't someone who doesn't lose, a winner is someone who doesn't quit."
Reply:I can do it in practice just fine, I've just not put together two good sets of welds on each of the two test plates yet (have to do both at the same time).  These particular test plates are 6010 both roots and covers, single cover on vertical and 2 covers on overhead.  My welds are solid, every one I've gouged has looked great, but the appearance on one of them won't be up to snuff for the test.  6011 slag sucks, especially if you didn't get a slag hammer yet and had to scrape it off with the rods like I did, but 6010 slag comes off easily if you let it cool enough, just drag the hammer along the weld and wire brush it.  Vert will even start popping off by itself as it cools.I do like that 6010 seems to weld through anything - rust, paint, I'm pretty sure you could weld the inside of a wheel through the tire, and it wouldn't surprise me if you could weld aluminum to plywood with it.  I know it's a good rod, I'm just frustrated that I've spent two weeks working on the same process, and haven't moved on yet.  Once I finish these tests, it's on to NR-232 vertical and overhead, then out in the yard as a 1st class welder.  $10/hr while I'm in the school is fine, but I'd like to start making $19.50/hr out in the yard sooner rather than later.PatrickLincoln 175HD