Welding Tips and Tricks

I am trying to learn how to mig weld. My main interest is car body work. I am trying to learn to weld 1.1mm steel (about 19 gauge).

I am using an SIP HG2300mp mig/tig/arc combo welder with 0.8mm (about 20 gauge) flux core wire (trying to avoid gas cost). Wire feed setting ranges 1 - 10 and voltage 13 - 24v. I have been trying mostly @ minimum wire speed & 14v. Have ranged between 1-3 wire speed and 13-16v, none of which produced anything better. Have been trying some sort of stitch method as an attempt to run constant eeee's would put too much heat in this thin metal and burn holes.

So here are some front and back photos of my practice welds and a photo of the car floor patch I am trying to weld on this project..

1) Thoughts on my weld attempts, 1 out of 10 (I won't be offended I think it's 2/10), anything obvious I have done wrong?
2) Is the gap too large? am I stupid for trying to weld a 'gap' as opposed to butt or lap joint
3) Any other advice?

I can't see the images - but you are not going to get really nice body panel results with flux core.

Just go ahead and use solid wire and gas. I use 100% co2 to save money. I rarely use mixed gas.

Here is my '89 f150 plow truck I saved (and sold to my brother).

All welding was with 0.035" wire and 100% co2.
(smaller wire would have been better, but it's what was in the machine )
Perfect color match - LOL

Take your time sheet metal took me a long time to learn To get it where I feel proud of my workbut it’s not too hard

If you’re trying to metal finish the grinding process is as important as the welding process I would get perfect fitment and wells and I would mess up my panels on the granting process If it’s not done correctly it will warp the panels as much as the welding

MinnesotaDave wrote:I can't see the images - but you are not going to get really nice body panel results with flux core.

Just go ahead and use solid wire and gas. I use 100% co2 to save money. I rarely use mixed gas.

Here is my '89 f150 plow truck I saved (and sold to my brother).

All welding was with 0.035" wire and 100% co2.
(smaller wire would have been better, but it's what was in the machine )

89 ford plow truck rocker.jpg

89 ford plow truck floor gone.jpg

89 ford plow truck floor done.jpg

Perfect color match - LOL

89 ford plow truck done.jpg

That's some nice work there! I plan to learn as well on some body panels in the near future. I've heard lots of spot welds as you go