Newbie welder in need of guidance (help)

admin

I have a Millermatic 211 MIG welder that I am trying to learn to weld with.  I am trying to use the automatic settings and am having mixed results.  I am completely new to welding so I am sure my issues are mostly technique but there may be some equipment issues (adjustments) I need to make.  Any help on what I can do to my technique or equipment settings would be greatly appreciated.This photo shows what the wire looks like coming out of the gun after I weld.  It is like the wire speed is too fast but maybe I am too slow.  Right now, I find myself triming the wire after each time I stop welding:This picture shows what I have my welder set on for the metal I am trying to weld:This pictures below show the results I had today:
Reply:If that is the length of the wire after you weld, my guess is you are holding the gun too far away for the material. I'd expect to see about 3/8" - 1/2" or wire sticking out of the gun. Yours looks closer to 3/4"- 1" from what I can tell.The farther away you hold the gun and the longer  the wire is, the "colder" the machine will run at the same settings. Push in close and the weld will "heat" up and burn in better. Cut the wire off and try to stay in closer. To see better, look into the front of the gun as you push rather than from behind. It helps if you weld slightly towards yourself as you do this.Another clue you may be too far away is all the porosity I see. It might be from low gas flow, but combined with the wire length, I'm guessing you are too far away..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Great info...thanks.  When I start out the wire is about 1/2" long but by the time I quit, it is usually longer...but I will try what you suggest to see if the results are any better.  I am running the gas between 20 and 30 when welding.
Reply:You need to work on keeping your distance to the work as constant as possible. I see a lot of guys who "roll" their hands start off close and then get farther away as they go. It's a bit easier if you drag your hand along the work to help maintain a constant distance..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan