New Mig Welder / Lots of Spatter / Review weld

[kkirt1]

Lots of great info here. Would like some help if you don't mind.

Take a look at the photos below.


Please answer a couple of questions:
It seems as though there is more smoke and spatter than should be due to the gas... right?
What is the liquid coming from the weld puddle and is it normal? I thought that was a bi-product of flux in the wire.
Overall weld quality.

I have had a little bit of experience on a Lincoln 135 using flux core wire. I recently "upgraded" to a Lincoln 256 with Gas. That is the machine I used to make the welds.

 

[CNC Dan]

What is the liquid coming from the weld puddle and is it normal?

Silicon. It's normal.
The guy from weldingtipsandtricks.com mentioned it in one of his recent vids.

 

[yomax4]

Spatter can also be due to gun angle being to low or being to far from the puddle ie: Stick Out/ Arc Length. try to get the nozzle closer to the plate and it will improve. Silicon Islands on your weld is ok. Just chip them off if you want to paint.