learning to weld

CLEAN THE METAL!!! Use a zircon wheel and wipe it with acetone before welding. Get it shiny.

Of the welds you made, the top pic, far right row, third one done looks pretty good.

If you weld over that scale, you won't have a good idea of what's really happening. It's like paint over a rusty panel... no bueno if you want it to look good.

The door of the welder should have suggestions for wire speed and voltage. Try those and then adjust the voltage or W/S up and down to see what happens. Some guys like to weld slowly and others just rip along. How fast you move will dictate subtle changes to welder settings. In general, voltage dictates the width of your bead, wire speed the height.

Don't know where you are looking while welding, don't look where the wire is entering the puddle, watch the leading edge of the puddle and just push it along. Figure a technique that works for you, forward/back, circles, crescents, cursive e's, there's a bunch.

Keep wire stick out to about 1/4-1/2". Cut the snot ball off the wire before you start welding again.

Have fun