What an improvement, must be pleased you've got that sorted.
For anyone welding with arc and stick kit, if you keep the rods in a warm dry place (airing cupboard) they will weld much better. The external flux is hygroscopic (absorbs water) and doesn't work well at all with it damp. Usually it spatters all over the place and gives those blobs seen in the first photos.
If the flux doesn't flow properly over the hot weld it will oxidise during the weld phase and not give the integrity needed either.