Welding Tips and Tricks

this my first time doing a butt weld on such thick steel 5/16 and while I thought it was penetrating from the top it just didn't go all the way through even though I thought I was going pretty slow. I think maybe use a wider gap or the back and forth motion jody does instead of the weaving on the first pass? Or just go hotter and push the filler in? My machine is a everlast 185 and my pedal was to the floor.
thanks
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POPxWaBGMqY

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=POPxWaBGMqY[/youtube]

185 amps is plenty for the root, actually a little high. Try a nice sharp knife bevel around 37 degrees on each side with at least a 1/8" gap, run about 1/2" long tacks on each end, the gap will close as you weld, wait for it to keyhole and shove the filler in. Keep the torch angle pretty vertical, you want to hammer down through and break the edges of the plates.

5/16" is pretty thick....all in all not a bad job for a newbie welder. I would try to lay a nice root in, then stack beads side by side then a cap pass. Im not a huge weave fan as it is easy to undercut the toes of the weld if your not careful. I use a back and forth motion unless Im walking the cup.