Trying for a decent bead!!!!

[Dustendee]

OKay OKAy Im new to welding and I only have a HF 80 amp Inverter stick welder, I think its great for the beginer on a dime the reason for this post is because Im having trouble with a consistant bead!? headbanger as a matter of fact most of my beads look like crap, im cleaning the work surface(1/4 in mild steal tacked in a T-joint) im using 6013 5/64-3/32-1/8 rod also from HF it has a good burn to it I just cant get it to bead the way I want to!? if anyone has some good technics that I can apply or point out somthing im doing worng please let me know. Or is it just the case of a noob that needs to practice some more.

[Gadget]

5/16th rod?? I hope that was a typo and you meant 3/16". Even so with 80 amps at full bore you should be running 3/32 or at most 1/8" rod in my opinion.

[Dustendee]

Yeah I've been using 1/8 rod as well I really like that way that burns but im still having the problem....Splochy, and uneven beads, thicker in some part thin in others should I be using a weaving pattern? Ugh I need help (yes it was a typo its fixed)

[Gadget]

Can you post some photos of your beads?

[Dustendee]

Sure, I don't know how to do that though

[Gadget]

Sure, I don't know how to do that though

At the bottom of the post window there is a Manage Attachments button. Click on this then click on browse to find your photos. Once they are selected you must click the upload button to upload the photo to the post. Photo size is best at 640X480. You can click on preview to insure the photos have uploaded successfully. You have a limit of 5 photos per post. If you have more than that you can create another post immediately after the first and add 5 more photos.
Dan

[Dustendee]

okay so here are these nasty beads, these are with 1/8 6013 quick strikes from HF cursingicon

[barracuda]

Dustendee is your t-joint laying flat & are you welding vertical or horizontal also are you pushing or pulling your stick

[Dustendee]

Well in these photos I welded on a flat piece of metal not a t-joint (i know i said in first post it was a t-joint) and i like to weld at a 90 degree or a 45 degree angle and most of the time I'm pulling.

[Gadget]

The top few look like they are a bit cold. Not sure why the others are splotchy. Did you start and stop over the splotches or was that weld continuous.