First time welding, pics inside, advice please

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Alright, new to this forum, and new to welding. I have been welding for the first time this week, been practicing about an hour everyday to figure it out. I'm kinda getting the hang of it. I'm using a Miller AC/DC welder with 6013 sticks. I started welding because i need to weld some brackets onto my project truck for airbag suspension to bolt up.Here's a picture with some explanations what i did. Hope you guys can give me some advice what to do to improve my welding.ThanksLast edited by Rondog; 06-07-2008 at 12:11 AM.
Reply:It takes practice, I would suggest that you keep that 6013 rod virtually dragging across the metal, because to me it looks like your arc gap is too great, you're long-arcing. That is my read from the long void in the second bead. The first one is not too bad for starters.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:You top weld look good. I'd say on your bottom weld you could turn up amps a little.  You lost the puddle because you rod was too close.  A little more amperage would allow you to pull the rod back a little and stay above  the puddle not in it.  The slab engulfs the rod/arc if you get too close.   If you don't see the puddle bridging, then it aint bridging.  pull back and find the puddle.Also, the bottom is weld is in a heavier part of the plate, the top appears to be essentially 2 edges being welded together.
Reply:Slow down wait on the puddle, then run/travel with the puddle flowing with both pieces of metal. Not bad for a starter as stated above.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:One thing that you can practice is to try to make a bead without weaving. In my opinion it would be better for the root pass. If you want to make a thicker weld, just run a weave over that. Usually the weave pass takes a little less heat.A good rule of thumb when learning to weld is to try to keep your bead width around 2 - 4 times the thickness of your material.Last edited by Mark...; 06-07-2008 at 05:18 AM.
Reply:practice practice practice it wont come over night but you have the general idea, I am trying to train a kid now to pick up some of my back log and your welds are far better , if you get a chance try a mig welder if you have acces to one you can see the puddle better ( with out the slag blocking sight) that will give you a better idea of puddle flow
Reply:Mo heat.  Other wise you are getting there.  Did you clean the plate?What size rod and how many amps do you have it set on?Angling the rod  at maybe 60*  might help blow the slag behind you.David Last edited by David R; 06-08-2008 at 01:04 PM.Real world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Welcome to the forum.Try and post the amps you are running, AC, DC+ or DC-, the size of the rod as well as material thickness when you ask these sort of questions. The more info we have the easier it is to help.6013 is a good starter rod and you don't look like you are doing to bad. My suggestion would be to start out on just a plain flat plate running welds for a bit. It simplifies things. Helps to take the joint out of the equation.Where you welded over the poor weld, I'll bet you trapped a bunch of slag. You can see it all way down in the joint right next to your weld. If you have to reweld you need to remove ALL the slag either by chipping and picking it out or grinding. The slag in the weld will lead to possible failure in what appears to be a good weld.If you have the opportunity to take a nite class at a CC or local votec I would. Usually the class will almost pay for itself in the rods and steel that you use if you put in the effort. Good luck and keep practicing.