Newbie looking for critique

[Pixguy]

I have a couple of tractor projects I'm looking to do so I bought a 110 140V mig welder.

My budget and future needs dictated that welder so here we go....

I grabbed a pic of steel I had and started practicing going gasless. I really have little knowledge of settings.


My first try.

A few more lines. Started from the right/bottom. The surface started off brushed clean.

I'm looking for constructive criticism or advise.

 

[Tinhack]

Not enough heat. Is it cranked up all the way? Maybe too much wire feed too. It doesn't look like you're getting any penetration.

I can barely do 1/4" with my old Century 140 (110A). I bought it for sheet metal and it does well for that. For thicker stuff, I break out the old Craftsman Stick Welder.

 

[4570Man]

It’s too cold. The surface prep isn’t good enough either. You need to use a grinder and take it down to new metal. A stick welder will burn through that level of rust but a wire welder isn’t very forgiving about dirt.

 

[Pixguy]

I did brush clean the thick steel with a wire wheel but it got dirt as i went along.

The first 90° is less than 1/8 thick and that weld actually tacked it to my metal table.

I will test more.

 

[Pixguy]

The latest. Started from top right. To me it looks like I'm pulling back too far but it doesn't seem like it when I'm welding.

 

[jaxs]

Any amount you fall short welding you more than make up for with your torch cuts.

 

[amhicks21]

is the polarity set right? mig and flux core use opposite polarity.

 

[the old grind]

Leaning the torch too far back? I do that to see the bead better and get the same look when I do. Better that I weld L to R than say toward me to keep my angle closer to 90 deg.

btw, If that's gas-less, why does it look like you didn't chip the slag or wire brush after welding? Inquiring rookies want to know.

 

[Pixguy]

Any amount you fall short welding you more than make up for with your torch cuts.

To be honest, the material came from the transfer station where it was scrapped. See the pics below. I'm assuming it was plasma cut.

I then cut off the lettering and got this.

 

[Pixguy]

is the polarity set right? mig and flux core use opposite polarity.

Not sure how that works. More education is due.

Leaning the torch too far back? I do that to see the bead better and get the same look when I do. Better that I weld L to R than say toward me to keep my angle closer to 90 deg.

btw, If that's gas-less, why does it look like you didn't chip the slag or wire brush after welding? Inquiring rookies want to know.

Possibly.
I did not chip of slag or wire brush.