Welding critique please
 

Here are a few of my welds with couple different settings. Are these OK or is there something I need to do? I was using Lincoln .025 wire on 16 gauge mild steel, I ended up losing my 1/16" gap as I welded but thisis just practice, right? I guess I should say C, D are the same as well as A, E. I this B was just way off on both...just trying things.

c and d look ok heat wise, however try moving side to side when welding bead, move onto each side the thickness of the metal is kinda general but try it

turn your wire speed down a bit too. Make sure that your watching where your wire is going. If you can't maybe try a lighter shade lense. You should be able to see the 2 metals fusing together.

-matt

Slow the wire down you have some build up.

Use panel clamps. They will keep your gap perfectand are the difference betweeen an ok butt weld and ok one. Flip piece over to see your penetration. It looks like your weld is sitting on top of the metal. If you grind for appearance which on sheetmetal I am assuming it is an exterior panel you will seriously weaken weld and joint. Turn up heat one click and gap should be thickness of metal for a rough estimate.

Thanks guys, I love to play with welder I just get frustrated not nowing 100% if I am doing it correctly. I can get a good ear for the weld, and see it flowing, just a little anal when it come to how I do some things...especially my car.

How fast are you moving the torch? It appears that you are moving quickly with not enough heat. What welder are you using and what settings?

Not sure how fast, sometimes I think I am too slow others too fast. I'm using a Lincoln 175T with the heat setting on C and 4.5 for the wire speed. That was for samples C,D and I change on A,E @ B for heat and 3.5 for speed. I am using Argon gas mix with that set at 20.

looks like its sitting on top of the metal.. add a little distance between the plates.. equal or a little less than the plate thickness. and i like to use a circular motion about 1/4 inch diameter circles, one rev per second.. give or take..