So I am a novice welder.. with a craftsman I picked up for 50 bucks its .030 flux wire set on 2 and high voltage. This is my first real attempt. I used a mix of half moon movements and small circles.

 

you missed the second plate... you only welded on the first place.

wire speed needs to be down, and heat needs to be up.

 

Good for first attempt

 

Try cleaning the surface really well. It looks a bit dirty.

I use a wire wheel on my grinder before I weld.

 

Thanks guys. So here i start
Brian- What do you mean i am missing the second plate?
Gee- I did clean it i just didnt continue to clean down the angle. I used the sledge hammer test. PASS! im so happy!

 

... Not too bad...

 

when you pull the line on the plate look at where the majority of your weld is and you can see how it is separated towards the right

it is a good start. but increase the heat, slow down the wire speed and if you clean the plate like posted you wont get the splatter

 

r u pushing or pulling and it looks like your using a gasless flux so turn ur wire speed up some more and pull it and rock it forward its called the studdar affect itll feel in gaps as u go o so u know ive been a certified welder for 4 years now im not a master at it but i still know what im doing

 

To make a good bead, you'll see a "puddle of liquid metal" form when you engage the welder. make sure the puddle is centered between the 2 pieces. then slowly dip into the puddle closer to the side that your welding towards and pull some of that puddle farther along. don't just do circles down the seam. Your doing those circles to dip in to the puddle a little bit every rotation and pull the bead along the seam one little bit at a time. Also, I find that resting the hand holding the welder(my right hand) and using the other(my left) to hold close to the tip of the welder and do your circles with what would be my left hand. I also use argon-CO2 and regular wire rather than flux core(I just like it better) either way great start! people can try to explain and give you pointers but only you can find the perfect technique for yourself. Keep working at it!

 

Whoa... Well would you mind posting a picture of a none cleaned weld that is considered good. As i would like to keep it for a reference as to how i can make my weld. Would you please go in depth about how to use the puddle to push it or pull it ?

 

I'll get you a pic of a good weld in a few

 

Sweet thanks brandon!

 

Pirate has a great welding video series btw

 

Also go see Jody at weldingtipsandtricks.com

 

The only pick I have is of welding aluminum. So it should look kinda close. When you start out it is much harder to use a flux core wire. If you can hook up some gas to your welder and get regular wire. If you do this you will push your weld and I found for me it is easier. From your weld it looks like you might have been welding galvanized steel. If you are you must grind all of the coating off. And if you do a lot of it be care full you can get real sick off the zink that they use to coat the steel with. If I were you I would try to find someone to take a little time and show you. And you will only get better buy practice, run through a spool or two and you will be shocked at the difference.