I've got the Handler 140.....great little machine. Are you using MIG wire or flux core wire? If you have gas, you want MIG. It's a solid copper-colored wire, and it's cheaper.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE. You want your amperage on the lowest setting possible (A) and you want your wire speed to be around 25-30. Start there, and adjust WIRE SPEED, not amperage. Also play with your Contact Tip To Work Distance (CTTWD) - how far away you hold the contact tip; the piece that's inside the cup. The farther out, the more heat you're putting in and the the wider the bead. Also, try to do as much downhand welding as possible; the best penetration, and the flatter and smoother the weld.
Most of all, get relaxed. Wrap that whip around your arm once, and get in a good position to stay for a while. The less starts & stops you have, the better. Try to keep the whip as straight as possible; too many bends in your whip and the wire will want to 'jump' or skip on ya.
