Carla you and John
should go visit a welding shop.
Ask to try using a solid core mig welder with shielding gas.
I have been using a flux core welder for the last few years.
I have never been happy with how the weld looked.
My stick welds look much better.
Then recently I tried out a solid core mig welder.
OMG, the difference is amazing. My welds suddenly looked like a pipefitter made them!
Think of all the money I would save on grinding wheels...
I'm looking at a nice 90 amp Lincoln Mig, it is selling for under $400, quite a bit higher than the flux core machines at $150 but I think it might be worth it.