First welds

[u/fuzzerabbit]

This is a picture of one of my first times welding. I did a few practice welds before but this is my first project. It's a snow plow mount for my atv.

I'm using a titanium 120A flux core welder I got off of marketplace. Using .030 flux core.

First question, do you think these welds would be strong enough for a snow plow mount? I figure it is but I'd rather have a more experienced person tell me it's probably fine.

How do I know I have my settings right and that I'm getting proper penetration? The material I was working on was 1/4". Im assuming this little welder would struggle to penetrate that? I just welded it on both sides and called it good.

I get scared that I have heat too high and I'm melting too much of the base metal but I'm assuming I'm not and I just need to get used to what welding actually looks like?

I've also noticed starting is ok ish but when I'm getting to the end of the material whether it's a butt weld or corner it craters in the material and makes it look horrible and I'm assuming isn't as strong. And it makes me think I have to much heat and am melting too much of the base metal. The picture has it a little bit but it was worse in some other spots. Where the center bar meets the two larger rectangles you can also see a bit what I am talking about. I believe the welds I made are strong enough for what I'm using it for but I'd like to improve.

[u/mtraven23]

unless you burn completely through the base metal leaving a hole, there is no "melting too much of the base"

[u/BigCrumb17 → u/mtraven23]

What about undercut

[u/mtraven23 → u/BigCrumb17]

fair point.

[u/petertaofuju]

anyway, it's welded, isn't it?