Originally Posted by hearsedriver

I have been welding for quite some time now and not to long ago I ran out of wire, I grabbed a spool I had and slapped it in the welder. Well not looking the wire I grabbed flux core and my welds turned out like yours did when I had my gas on which is currently at 20 cfh I would check the wire

Originally Posted by PingPong

I use the Hobart 210.. I run 30-35cfm on my machine... I dont know what the manual calls for, but that was what I was taught many moons ago.


ALso where are you welding.. is it inside, or outside? Even a slight breeze can blow the shielding gas away.

Originally Posted by DBMETALWORX

No doubt about it. You have a gas problem. 20cfh is fine while the gas is flowing. Make sure there's no breeze. Windy or breezy conditions will blow the gas away. Clean metal helps alot too, for a nice weld. Are you using a flow meter or just a regulator? Flow meter has a 4" (or so) tall glass cylinder with a ball inside that reads your cfh. Also make sure you hear the gas flow when you squeeze the trigger. I like to hold it close to my cheek to make sure I feel the gas as well as hearing it.

Originally Posted by janowski96

I didn't get a chance to take any pictures, but I finally got a chance to play with the welder more. The welds are looking not to shabby. Yay! Thanks for everybodys input and thoughts during this process. I think it's time to try building some of the parts i've had planned. And during last weekend, my woman really stepped up and got me some new parts during the black Friday deals. My girl is awesome. Gotta love that.

Again thanks to everyone.

Originally Posted by rand4x4

Your cutting off gas, If it screws on back it off and pull triger to hear gas flow. Check gas lines something is doing it.

Originally Posted by janowski96

Well I was leaving the garage door completely open when welding and since it's getting colder outside and raining it was a little breezy, hence blowing my gas away when welding. I shut the garage a bit and now the welds are getting better. Just got to keep practicing. Thanks for your help bunches.

Originally Posted by motorcharge

Yep, or switch to a flux core wire. Just have to make sure you get the right kind because a lot of them are meant for vertical only welding.

Just gotta know how flux core works. You've got to pull and can't stop and start like with regular wire. You've got to go back and hit the welds with a chipping hammer and wire brush to get all the slag off like you do with stick welding.

Different animal, but it's good once you get used to it and it's great for 3/16" and up.