Welding Tips and Tricks

I am new to welding and to the Forum. I just started welding with a Snap-on MIG 135 (115 volt, 135 amp) MIG welder. I am using 0.023" wire and C25 gas. I made a couple welds on 2-inch square tubing, 16 gauge. I don't know the correlation between the setting on the welder and amperage/wire feed (there is no chart on the welder or in the manual). Voltage setting go from 1 to 7 and wire feed from 1 to 10. The welds shown below were done at the settings noted. Photos show outside and inside of tubing. The first photo shows very good penetration, but I am wondering whether I should see that much. The others seem to show a little penetration, but I can see the joint at some or most areas (varies with the weld). I would appreciate any comments. Thanks

Edit: I cannot attach more than three photos, so I will post two and add some to another post.

Adding to my last post, here are two more photos.

Welcome to the Forum.

Congratulations - for a first weld with a questionable welder I'd say you are doing very well - the bead looks good - consistency will improve with experience - but you would appear to have a found a voltage / wire speed that works - not too hot or cold - toes look good - can't see anything that wants changing - just keep at it - perhaps write down your approximate settings when you get a decent weld - my only suggestion though it's personal preference would be to change to a gas mix with less CO2 ( ie 5% ) as it will give you a more fluid puddle and smoother welds at the low amps your using .

I've used a Snap-On branded mig welder before. (15-20 years ago.) While it seemed to me it was actually an overpriced machine more suited to a hobbyist than a professional (which surprised me with the high quality of their mechanical tools), it was, if I recall, manufactured by Esetti (sp?), and worked surprisingly well.

I see things in those welds I might critique if you'd been practicing a few weeks, but for first welds, those are great!

I've merged your pictures into this topic, so they all appear together. The penetration in your second picture is about ideal. You've broken the edges of the inside of the tube and added an appropraite amount of "internal reinforcement", without an excess of metal, or big clumps or drips (often called "dog ticks" or "grapes").

Time and practice will improve everything, and to do that well on a first go is a good sign for things to come.

I agree with Brian, your settings appear to be close to ideal. Very little spatter, good wet-out, and no undercut. My experience with gas mixes does not include 95/5, so I can't personally confirm his recommendation for it, but gas mixes have been and are currently being discussed, and others support his recommendation, though as you're learning this, I'd use up the bottle you have before considering the change.

Steve S

@ Otto - the over priced & really disappointing welders that Snap On sold here were mostly Cebora - but I believe they have used others & they have always been low spec hobby machines - low duty cycle - nasty torches - nasty wire feed - I don't know why they do it - I have a fair amount of their hand tools & have always been happy with the quality ( if a bit pricey ) - don't want to start a hate campaign - but in my opinion if anyone here is looking to buy a first Mig set - DON'T buy Snap On !

Good feedback, team: encouraging, and constructive.

A lot of beginners, surfing here in months to come, might benefit from this approach.

Thank you, gurus.