advice(critism) on my welds please

[Gas mark 5]

would people mind just saying a lot of dreadful things about my (almost) first welds please (and posibly some helpful comments...)
I hope They have attached themselves...
Just for information, I was using a telwin bimax 30-145 amp welder on power setting of 2 out of 4 and wire speed of between 2 and 5 out of ten.
P.S. Many many many many (insert more many's here) thanks the hitch for the metal I am practicing on, it is absoulutly brilliant! thanks!

 

[malcolm]

Looks like you still have a problem with the wind blowing the shielding gas away. Though it has been very windy today. What do you have for a wind break? I had to close the garage doors today to keep out the breeze.

Other than that the welds aren't looking bad - the ones in the last photo look better than my efforts this afternoon (under rusty car).

The heat looks continuous through the weld and they look consistant as you go along. You seem to be using the on-off technique on some of the beads. Better to practice making continuous welds as it gives a better feel for controlling the weld, and would probably help with that butt weld in the middle.

 

[Hitch]

The lower pic looks reasonable, was that the 1.5mm? The power looks about right.
As Malc mentioned theres a few gas issues there, could be a number of things really-
Wind blowing gas away, incorrect flow rate, or perhaps your torch is a bit far away.

On that 1.5mm stuff, you should quite easily be able to run a bead without the on off on off technique, which it looks like you have tried a bit of both.

Something else that may be worth looking at, is the actual

As for the joint between the two, you should be tacking them up with a small gap between. This allows for proper penetration. Where the weld comes through slightly underneath.

Keep up the practice!

 

[Gas mark 5]

Thanks, I think that I might have some gas problems, I am using the crummy disposable ones, but I hope to get a proper one soon!
I was having some troubles with penetration though, only a couple of them actually went through, is it just a matter of practice?
P.S. I am using an old camping cooker as a windbrake, I have to weld outside because there is to much flamable stuff in the shed

 

[Hitch]

In some situations you wouldnt want it to go right through anyway.
Excessive penetration can cause problems of it own. TBH, most of the welds in the second picture, penetration is fine. Except for the actual joint, which i mentioned above, a small gap between the two is required.

 

[MARK]

Why do you all say it's a gas issue? Is it because of the brown stuff or a bit of spatter or am I missing something obvious?

 

[Hitch]

Beceause of the porosity mainly Mark, theres obviously gas there to some level.
Some have good gas coverage, others not so good, thats what made me say it could be technique. Like pulling the torch a little far away as you move along.

Easily done without realising, i still do it on the odd occasion in awkward positions.

 

[Gas mark 5]

I thought it might be the torch, but I even tried touching the shield to the metal, and even then it was still slightly porous (I am still using the disposable gas bottles...)