Lincoln 180T mig & flux core welder

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Can someone help me with setting the wire speed & current for flux core welding.the thicker the metal the better i can set controls & the better the weld looks.also i am pretty sure i don't know how much to tighten the feed roll or tighten the spool of wire.This is a new welder & i have only tried it about 5 times within the last 3 weeks.I also seem to have a problem seeing the weld puddle.I am pulling the gun should i be pushing.could i see the puddle better if at some point i got the Co2/argon & wire inplace of the flux core.all the welding i do is outside only have a small shop & it's full of stuff that could catch on fire or blow up.Fair with stick welding but this type welding is whipping me.also it's not the machine it's my inexperience.  thanks for your help.
Reply:On the inside of the wire cover there is a gauge for wire speed and amp settings it's a fairly close starting point for your metal thickness. You say your fair with stick well that should get you going then.The tension setting is best set by putting the wire against a peace of wood and depressing the trigger and you want it to slip a little bit, not push the gun away but a little bit of resistance.As for seeing the puddle, it's easier for me to wait after starting the arc, until I can see the puddle before running the bead. Hope this helps...Miller Thunderbolt 225Millermatic 130 XPLincoln HD 100 Forney C-5bt Arc welderPlasma Cutter Gianteach Cut40ACent Machinery Bandsaw Cent Machinery 16Speed Drill PressChicago Electric 130amp tig/90 ArcHobart 190 Mig spoolgun ready
Reply:the biggest problem with the wire spool is "birdnesting"where it acts like the spring it is and rolls backwards, leaving a tangle of wire. I set the wingnut for just enough tension to prevent this.i think the least tension lets the drive mechanism push the wire through, why put more strain on it?if you weld outside with gas you'll want some type of wind barricade.
Reply:Good advise from all. Try going down one shade on your lens and see if you can see better. Push or pull both work. I prefer to pull the puddle. When your arc makes a buzzing sound and you can hold a constant stickout with your wire your machine is set right. When every thing falls in place you will find wire welding, flux core or mig, is really easy.
Reply:Flux core works much better when pulled though it can be pushed, but there is a lot more splatter. Set your wire tension by sticking the wire against a board. The wire should slip in the rolls like this and it will help prevent birdnesting. You want to start where it doesn't slip and work backward to where it just starts to slip. My LN25 feeder has no adjustment for tension.My Hefty feeder does and if it isn't loose enough to slip the bird nests are frequent. If you can feel the wire bumping against the base metal you have too much coming out. If it melts back there isn't enough. It takes some experimenting but after a while you will know which direction to go just from the sound. Flux core wire runs with the polarity reversed from gmaw. FCAW (flux core) is dcen. GMAW (gas shielded) does not work well outdoors. The slightest puff of wind will mess up the weld. Then you get out the grinder, after a while you begin to cuss while you are grinding, and finally you go back to flux core. I have found stickout to be more critical with flux core than gmaw.The difference between art and craft is the quality of the workmanship. I am an artist.