Ernie......I'm practicing fillet welds in T's from 14 Gauge .074 mild steel > and
> my bead size is running between .110 to .120. How am I doing for bead size? > I
> was told the bead should be the same width as the metal thickness, but .074
> just seems TO DARN SMALL for good strength.
On a fillet weld on 14 ga steel, the bead should be about an 1/8" wide (.125"), so you are fine.
Your amperage should be set at 100 amps.
0.074" = 74 amps + 30% (25 amps) = ~99 amps.
If you can't get the bead to flow at 100 amps then you are too far from the metal.