What is wrong with these pictures?

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Hello all: Another newbie question. I was MIG welding this morning on a debris chute for my cutting area of the welding table. The material appears to be 14ga Steel of some sort with a smooth coating. You know, typical dumpster find. Anyway, flap disc to the coating and got it all shiny. Set up to do an outside corner on practice pieces and noticed a fair amount of smoke while welding. When done, found this "whitish" substance on both sides of the material. Never seen it before, brushes off easily but am concerned since I don't know where it is coming from. Tried a different material that I know is HR steel and no sign of the stuff. The last two pictures are of the inside and outside of the outside corner weld. The remaining pictures are of the .136 x 3" strip HR steel I have been practicing on and would like comments on apparent quality or lack thereof. The primary difference is the Wire Speed. Harbor Freight Dual MIG 171, .023 ER70S-6; 14ga material at 17 open circuit volts (60A) and .136 HR Steel at 20 open circuit volts (140A). Wire speed range from 6 to 8 out of 10. I hope this makes sense since I wanted to find out what the white stuff was before I continued welding the debris chute. No need to be gentle with comments hope to hear soon. Thank you and take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:looks like galvanized coatingEd Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1looks like galvanized coating
Reply:Yep, I get that when welding on galvanized steel even after prep.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Brocolli1, MinnesotaDave and Gravel: Thank you so much for the information. I did not think it was galvanized since it was such a uniform surface, not like what I usually see. My first guess was aluminized steel but never seen that in sheet. Do you have any comments on the "welds" I made  on the thicker material? My thoughts are that one is too cold, one too hot and the other maybe OK? Thanks again and take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:I think they are all cold but hard to tell in the pics.GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:Gravel: Thanks. I will cut all three and see if I can get an etch on them and see if there is any penetration. Glad to get the information. Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:Ventilation! You need to get that galvanized smoke away from you when your welding it!And drink a glass of milk when your done. ( helps flush all that junk out of your system from the fumes)Just a friendly reminderReal welders know how to penetrate!(Equipment)Whatever can be used to beat my opponent into submission!
Reply:Thanks for the advice. When I was cutting the pieces and doing the test welding I was wearing a cartridge respirator mask and had a large fan blowing out of the garage. I was upwind of the cutting and test welding.  I will run the same setup when I weld the rest of it. FWIW, I got a light etch with phosphoric acid on my three thicker test welds pictured above. The first one showed ZERO penetration, the next one showed penetration about 50% through and the last one (pretty to me) showed penetration only about 25% through.  Tried to get pictures but not enough contrast with my cheepo camera. I will try traveling slower and play some more with the Wire Speed and Voltages and see what happens. Really hope this equipment can weld 10ga steel in a single pass. I plan to do the modifications posted by on the forum to improve the 171's performance since I cannot even afford a used Red or Blue. Thanks to everyone for reading and responding so promptly. Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:Originally Posted by fluvannabearThanks for the advice. When I was cutting the pieces and doing the test welding I was wearing a cartridge respirator mask and had a large fan blowing out of the garage. I was upwind of the cutting and test welding.  I will run the same setup when I weld the rest of it. FWIW, I got a light etch with phosphoric acid on my three thicker test welds pictured above. The first one showed ZERO penetration, the next one showed penetration about 50% through and the last one (pretty to me) showed penetration only about 25% through.  Tried to get pictures but not enough contrast with my cheepo camera. I will try traveling slower and play some more with the Wire Speed and Voltages and see what happens. Really hope this equipment can weld 10ga steel in a single pass. I plan to do the modifications posted by on the forum to improve the 171's performance since I cannot even afford a used Red or Blue. Thanks to everyone for reading and responding so promptly. Take care. Burt
Reply:Thanks for the encouragement Gravel. I got plenty of time to practice, 2-10lb rolls of .035 came in today and still have 1-10lb roll of .023 left. That will keep me off eBay and the television for a while. Just have to work on my sister-in-laws car to get it through state inspection before it snows. Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:I think your seagull is constipated a littleTry squeezing gently but firmly and move without hesitationBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:So you don't think I have to get a bigger seagull? Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:Research about your machine. The .030 wire maybe better suited then the .035. Experiment with settings in manual or what's listed on machine door for starters. Run hotter and learn to control heat. Get yourself a thickness gauge instead of guessing if that helps. Settings are only a guide, experience is your answer.
Reply:BD1: Thank you for your advice. I will start with the information in the "manual" since there is nothing on the door. I can measure the material thickness with either a caliper or micrometer so OK there too. If I can get the variables lined up properly, I expect that lots of practice will be my future. Fortunately, I am only welding for myself so I can work on proper technique without risking damage to self or others. From what I have read on these forums, a pretty weld is not necessarily strong and a strong weld can be pretty. Will keep working and know I will get there and then will post results for evaluation. Take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA
Reply:A bigger seagull would be good ...But BD1 is right most of those machine are overrated as far as capability so running a smaller wire would probably fix the cold look the bead profile hasand then it's all practiceBacked my CATMA over your CARMA oops clusmy me  What would SATAN do ?? Miller Trailblazer 302 AirPakMiller Digital Elite  Optrel Welding HatArcair K4000Suitcase 12RC / 12 VSHypertherm PM-45Rage 3 sawRusty old Truck
Reply:killdozerd11: Since I made those "welds" with 0.023 ER70S-3 wire I guess I am stuck with many hours of practice. I am hoping the profile improves once I get the machine settings right.  I still have trouble "staying within the lines" as they used to say in school. Thanks and take care. BurtHF DUAL MIG 171 w/ Multiple Mods.WSME-200 AC/DC TIG PULSE/MMACUT-50 PLASMA