Bad Bead? What's up with this?

[miweldmi]

So I have been using 1/16" 7014 rods to begin assembling my welding cart. Last night I was welding the legs on and most beads I ran would stick only to the leg portion. Funny thing is the ground clamp was attached to the base (where the caster will be mounted). I had to make several passes and keep connecting beads until they secured to the base. This worried me because the leg was then not connected optimally where the joint is and may have a little gap there. Heres a pic of the bead.

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After I finished last night I realized... Maybe it's the amperage is too low. I think that might be the cause but what do you guys think. I was running about 37-38 amps on 1/16" 7014.

Here is a pic after I had the legs attached. The casters will mount on the bottom 'rail' portion and the top plate will mount to the top of the legs. The top will be framed with 2" angle.

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So, couple questions.
1.) What's up with the first pic, amperage too low?
2.) If I up the amperage (if that's the problem) and go back over it, will the welds that are there now ?re-liquify? and meld with the new weld? Or do I have to grind them down before running new beads?
3.) If there is any slag inclusion and I run back over the old bead, will the slag float to the top or will the slag just be further included?

Thanks.

[scotte]

i would grind it down imho

if it was a non-critical weld and i had miged or tiged it i would run over it again (no slag)

[Critter]

Looks like a little more amps needed and put the rod closer to the center of the groove, 1/16? I'm running 3/16s on mine at 60 amps on black pipe. Nice looking bead but needs more penetration, IMHO

[hankj]

More like 50 amps, I'd think. Maybe a little more on AC.

Hank

[miweldmi]

Thanks everyone. I thought I had dialed in a good amperage for these rods, but considering my trouble yesterday maybe not. Come to think of it I think I might have turned it down a bit yesterday due to some excessive splatter, maybe too much.

Yes, they are 1/16". I do love the 7014 rods now though, IMO much better than the 6013's I was using. I want to get some 3/32" though or bigger now that I know I love the 7014. The 1/16" just don't fill very well.

Here are the rods I am using. http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=96813

I will get some bigger diam. ones at TS, just used these HF ones to test the 7014's.

[boykjo]

3/32 rod 60-70 amps. Stay in the corner and watch your 12 oclock and six oclock when laying the fillet. This should do the trick.

[wworks]

Also I would definitely suggest going to home depot and getting some lincoln rods. they will work much better than the cheap harbor freight stuff.

[thingy]

Amps for rod,,if you don't burn hot enough it won't start,,if you burn way hot you'll make holes,,,in other words,the right amount of amps all depends,,if you are welding something thin,you need to use a smaller rod which will require less amps,something thick you can use a bigger rod,and more amps,,but generally speakin,if you ain't just blowing holes in it and its not acting like a cutting torch,than you are probably not burning to hot,,if its hard to start and its making globs of things than you are burning to cold,,,turn it way up,,and see what it does than turn it way down and see what it does,,somewhere inbetween is where its right,,,thingy