MIG welding help please

As you say, start on scrap. Consult the guide that is inside the flap. When welding, keep the puddle aimed at the thicker part (the tubing) and let it accumulate and flow over to the sheet metal so just the edge of the puddle is what melts the sheet metal, and not the biggest part of the arc. Position the weld any way you can and any time you can so you are welding on the flat. Vertical down is especially easy with MIG, and can make a weld with a good appearance, but may be daunting to the newbie. Try it first on your scrap. Lastly, I like to take my SP 175+, set it hot, and do a series of spot welds so that it looks like TIG, yet distinctive enough to attract the attention of any real welder. Practice, and do the next spot when the color of the previously done puddle cools to a red. This will keep the metal hot so there is penetration and fusion, yet not heat it to critical melting point and hot short failure mode. It does hold, too, and really looks great if you keep the heat on the thick part and let it flow to the sheet metal. Use plenty of clamps and stagger your welds, or just wait between runs because that sheet metal will wander all over, and once it has started, you lost.

Let us know how it comes out.

Long flowing welds look great. The sequential puddle spot welds are a show off thing, but a fun thing to learn and do.

Steve

Eric,

What you might want to try to do is turn the mig welding wire feed speed down.

A faster wire speed will build up the weld A slower wire speed will not build up the weld, and will be flatter. (but more prone to burn through)

Hope this helps.

P.s could also try much smaller diameter mig wire.