trying to improve my mig welding

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Ok guys fairly new to the forum and welding both.  I have done a good bit of stick welding and can make my welds hold but not the prettiest things in the world but they held.  So I came across a Hobart 140 mig a while back and couldnt pass it up for the price (almost new less than .5lb wire run through it) Kid needed money (not hot had receipt) so I decided to get it out the other day and started using it.  I have a total of about 3 hrs mig welding experience so help me out here.  I am welding 1/4 CRS (which I know is probably pushing it)  but here is my biggest question I have the voltage on 4 (the highest setting) and the WFS at about 32 or so does this sound right.  Because I cant seem to get the wire feed any higher without splatter everywhere.  Maybe I am used to the burn it in method which I know dont work.  But I even welded some thinner 3/16 CRS and had to stay relative same setting or SPLAT everywhere.  really looking to improve my mig welding.  Also anyone in the Martinsburg, WV    Hagerstown MD area willing to teach for a fee.One more quick question I have come into the situation where I will be welding a LOT more than I used too will the 140 handle for the most part I weld 3/16, 1/4 and scd 40 and 80 pipe.  but hope to be doing it qutie a bit.  Looked at the MM212 with the "autoset" is it worth the extra money or is the 211 just as goodLast edited by rbmedic75; 06-02-2009 at 01:10 AM.
Reply:Also the Hobart 140 has roller feeds fo 30 and 35 wire I am using the 35.
Reply:So you think your maxing out your 140 and considering something larger perhaps a trade before this welder gets any use?Buy a welder capable of running "Spray Arc" seems to be where there is alot of interest, you'll need 250 amps.Dedicate your welder to 220v.
Reply:I don't see all this splattering you're talking about.  Your pipe welds look nice.  A bit of undercut/underfill in the second pic but the first pic looks darn good.  Did you weld these with the Hobart 140?  Was it done on a positioner?  I'm confused... the text doesn't seem to go with the pics at all....MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by DesertRider33I don't see all this splattering you're talking about.  Your pipe welds look nice.  A bit of undercut/underfill in the second pic but the first pic looks darn good.  Did you weld these with the Hobart 140?  Was it done on a positioner?  I'm confused... the text doesn't seem to go with the pics at all....
Reply:Dont know if it matters but it is 110 curently plug in directly to a GFI 15 amp regular garage outlet I did up the breaker to 30 amps cause it kept tripping the 15 amp.I can make 4 different welds one after the other same settings same material and none of them may look the same ???? some high some flat some splatter.  I have cleaned the gun made sure the wiring is feeding freely gas is flowing was up to about 12 or 13 LPM 75 25 argon co2 but was told to back it down to like 8 or 9 LPM --- sound rightLast edited by rbmedic75; 06-02-2009 at 11:19 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by rbmedic75Dont know if it matters but it is 110 curently plug in directly to a GFI 15 amp regular garage outlet I did up the breaker to 30 amps cause it kept tripping the 15 amp.
Reply:thanks for the heads up.  I did already uprgade the wire when I did the breaker but I could not find an outlet rated for 30 amps with the same plug that the welder has (just normal plug).  But i will find one or change out the cord to a different style plug.
Reply:You're welcome.    Those are indeed some nice mig pipe welds there.You won't find a 30-amp 110v plug with the same plug pattern as the standard NEMA 5-15R house plug.  You can find 30-amp 125v twist-lock plugs though, NEMA L5-30R is the number for the receptacle, if I remember right.I fully agree, never increase the breaker size in an existing circuit, you're only asking for trouble there.Sounds like you got a smokin deal on the welder.  I don't have an HH135, or a MM135 either so I don't know what setting might work best on that machine.  I find that setting the voltage and wire speed about equal with eachother is usually a descent starting point on most migs I've used that do not have the controls in volts and inches per minute and use arbitrary numbers or letters instead.1/4-inch in a single pass is asking alot of that 110v machine.  Bevel it, gap it and weld it in multiple passes.Last edited by DesertRider33; 06-03-2009 at 11:33 PM.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op