help from welding guys, having trouble with mig flux cored wire Options

[wayne1234]

OK, I have a fairly new Lincoln 175hd welder, it is 220volt I have have not done a ton of welding but enough to to be dumb I guess. what I have welded in the past is 1/4" thick metal like a totally fabbed snow plow mount for my ram truck. shortened and welded a steel flatbed(thinner metal for top , diamond plate) to same truck. various trailer repairs. and such.,,, so my new to me 914 needs a few welds like in the front trunk where the previous owner did as trunk patch. I start by filling in a couple of small screw holes, that goes fine, then I tried the seam and it seems like I am blowing right through the metal. or it keeps puddling like a drip below.? and forget trying to fill a small gap..... Now let me say I am using FLUX CORED WIRE. with no gas. (I haven't ever used gas) is that my problem? did I just get away with it in my thicker metal? I know a buddy told me flux-cored gets more penetration. this is the first "sheet metal" welding I have done. Any input is welcome.

[CliffBraun]

I'd try shorter welding cycles, maybe a lower power level and/or feed rate. FCAW is a PWM process so you set power via Voltage*current and current is bursts dependent on feed rate and the voltage.

Edit, to be more clear: Generally you set voltage with the knob or switches or whatever, and you control average current via feed rate 'cause you short the wire, it melts then no current flows, etc.

Incidentally, pet peeve, Flux core welding is generally not MIG, it's FCAW(Flux core arc welding). Hell, MIG isn't usually MIG it's GMAW (Gas metal arc welding) as the gas is generally Co2 and a small amount of argon (IIRC)