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Long time TIG welder, relatively new MIG welder. I was welding some 1/4" plate to the floorpan of a car (.030" maybe?) for some seat mounts, using .030" wire, and a few places, when I would stop the weld, I would get these nasty stalactites that would grow as the weld cooled. Grind them off, and they are hollow. Try to weld again, sometimes cool, sometimes more growths. Eventually I was able to grind all the crap out of there, and get good welds, but I'm wondering what the issue was that started it. Everything was clean - no rust, no paint, etc. Turned the 75/25 gas gas up from 20 CFH to 30 CFH to try and make sure that it's shielded better, but no dice. Not sure what was up, but it's the first time I've ever dealt with it in MIG, and it sucked. I've had similar problems in TIG when I try to weld dirty material, but like I said - all of this was freshly wire brushed.
EDIT - It was my first time welding stuff I had plasma cut. Does the plasma process leave contamination in the cut? Give that it's melting the steel without a shielding gas, I could see the potential for that.
EDIT - It was my first time welding stuff I had plasma cut. Does the plasma process leave contamination in the cut? Give that it's melting the steel without a shielding gas, I could see the potential for that.