[SquirmyPug]

Try turning up the amperage a little higher, the first few pictures look a little cold. Try weaving side to side a bit more often so that its a smoother weld, that will help every pass after it go in better. Don't try to cap until you are about 1/16" from flush so that you don't have to carry so much steel and get undercut. Also try holding the sides a little longer when weaving and move across the center faster, that should help keep the beads flat... Leave the grinder alone, practice until you don't need to grind every pass. Overall it doesn't look too bad.

 

[SquirmyPug]

I was told to do stringers opposed to weaving. How big of a weave do you recommend? Should I run my cap pass faster or wait for the plate too cool and run a nice weave?

I prefer stringers and if you were told to run stringers that's what you need. I wasn't talking about "Weaving", just the motion you use to keep a bead flat when welding vertical. Even with stringers it sometimes helps to move to the sides and hold a little to keep the puddle from stacking up or dripping.