Rating my welding, please!

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Hey, first post here. I bought a Lincoln AC 225 probably 10 years ago. Did a weld here or there, and thought I'd start really trying to get decent at it. I've been more of a "wood guy" making most of the furniture in my living room, so I thought this would be a good compliment to my woodworking skills. Then I bought a cheap flux core from Amazon and trying to mess around with that as wellAnyway, would love some feedback on these. I'm running 7014 on one side, 7018 on the other, 3/32. Both at 90A with the Lincoln.





The main thing I seem to be having a problem with is ending the weld so it goes to the end of the plate. Always seems to get too hot and flat. Advice is appreciated!
Reply:For the most part, those welds will hold.   Your pin holes might be from a long arc.   The end of the plate takes lots of practice, cause the plates are real hot.   Keep practicing !It seemed like a good idea at the time!
Reply:You may consider just padding beads before getting into different joints...just to get your baseline better.Many of those beads show a travel speed that's too fast and/or too much stick angle causing a V shaped bead rather than U.  Also it appears you're either speeding up and slowing down or aren't getting in a position from which you can move smoothly from start to finish so it's more herky jerky and it shows in the bead profile....thin slices then a big blob, then more thin slices.With that said, they wouldn't fall apart and they're a lot better than many folks post asking for feedback!Check out my bench vise website:  http://mivise.comMiller Syncrowave 250DXMillermatic 350P with XR AlumaProMiller Regency 200 with 22A feeder and Spoolmatic 3Hobart Champion EliteEverlast PowerTig 210EXT
Reply:I learned some basics of stick welding when I was a kid. When I decided I wanted to be really good at it I was working at the gas utility company. I was getting private lessons in the weld shop and practicing at home. I got proficient at 6010 root, hot, cap and 7018 hot and cap. Since I opened up my own welding contracting company I primarily MIG weld, but still occasionally stick weld.  Almost all of my stick welding is 7018. Any position. Just get good at that one rod and it will serve you very well from thick to thin, overhead vertical, flat. It is a strong rod, it is very easily manipulated. You can always find it.  Put all the other stick rods aside and practice 7018. If you get stuck there are plenty of 7018 videos. People can easily read 7018 pictures to tell you what you did wrong. It is fairly easy to weld with flat and make good looking welds that are strong. By all means learn how to use your FC welder as well, but stick with the one rod on the stick welder and learn it well.