i just started learning about welding.. or trying to fig it out... my welds dont look like everyone elses on here though.. they have a lot of pits (almost look like popped air pockets) why would that be?

im using a lincoln 180 mig w/gas bottle is set at 20 (psi?)... any tips would really be appreciated

could be a bunch of things like bad wire, dirty metal(area has to be free of rust, paint etc..), windy conditions(wind blows the gas away from weld) etc...

just wondering what gas are you using?

75/25% Argon/CO2 <--- what i use for mild steel welding or
100% Argon or
25/75%Argon/CO2.

i would first
make shure your not using flux core wire. make shure its mig wire,

press the triger and if you hear the gas hissing, i my self set my gas psi between 25 to 30,

cup is completely clean,

your work piece is wired wheeled, grinded and free from paint and rust front and back.

also when you weld make shure your stick out is not to far from you work piece

oh yea the name of the weld your getting with the pitts and swiss cheese looking is called porosity. <--not good

if you get porosity again just grind and reweld

hope this helps. pm me if you need help on anything else

Sure sounds like the gas isn't getting delivered to the weld. When you run out of gas in the middle of a weld it does the same thing.

i just started learning about welding.. or trying to fig it out... my welds dont look like everyone elses on here though.. they have a lot of pits (almost look like popped air pockets) why would that be?

im using a lincoln 180 mig w/gas bottle is set at 20 (psi?)... any tips would really be appreciated

Check the line for the gas down by the wire tensioner. If its pulled out a tad, the gas wont come out at the gun.

Had this problem at work.

Check the line for the gas down by the wire tensioner. If its pulled out a tad, the gas wont come out at the gun.

Had this problem at work.
:agree: Me too.

Sure sounds like the gas isn't getting delivered to the weld. When you run out of gas in the middle of a weld it does the same thing.

I agree with everybody above. Make sure your gauge on your gas bottle reads 20 WHILE you are holding the trigger.

What I do is open the valve on the bottle all the way open. Then with the amps or wire speed turned all the way down to save wire, pull the trigger. Adjust the gauge while you're pulling the trigger.

One more thing. With a gas shield you can't weld outside. Any breeze will blow your gas shield away leaving the weld puddle open to the atmosphere which is what causes the oxidation or pits in the weld.