So I know this post is late, but here are my welds from yesterday.
We switched to a new electrode type, previously we were exclusively practicing with e7024's. Yesterday we switched to the low hydrogen stick 7018's. They have to be kept in the dry oven to prevent hydrogen absorbing from the atmosphere.
My First plate side was done with 3/32nd diameter rods.
After that I switched to 1/8th diameter rods.
I tried to run at 115 amps at first but kept sticking the rod inside the puddle. I upped the amps to 125 and those problems vanished.
Then we left the 7018's behind for yet another new stick, the 7014's.
I'm still having trouble keeping track of my welding speed and arc length at the same time. Practice will fix that, but I don't have the money to buy even a cheap harbour freight stick welder.
As an aside, all the money from my welding posts will be going towards welding supplies. So if you want to help me out in my career as a welder, upvotes and resteems would go a very long way.