Did not know about the arc start away from the filler.. have not been doing that. Thanks! Also hey Oscar, picked up a Crystal 2.0 per your recommend and have to say wow... what an improvement over what I have now which is an ESAB A50 and a Miller Digital Infinity. It's not a night and day comparison...

Great ideas thanks so much for all your help guys!

Making some progress, thank you all for your help! Another question regarding being able to see what I'm welding. I have a cheater lens in my helmet but once I start an arc I end up guessing where the weld ends because it's just too dark. I have my shade down to 9... can I step down to 8 or 7 and st...

You mean like that? lol

Eureka! Tight fit/F1 Pedal to the metal. May have hung out there a bit too long?

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learn on thick coupons, ie 3/8 or bigger.
1/16" is well down the track. thin stuff is the hardest.

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So that's why I've been pulling my hair out? All I've learned on is 1/16.

Forced me to look up "linishers".. good on ya.

I've noticed even the slightest gap results in yet a bigger gap when trying to tack but trying to get a perfect fit it a real time eater.

"F1 vs Driving Ms Daisy" Brilliant! Thanks guys!

I'm trying to tig weld 1/2" sq .065 tubing together and not having much success so far. Tried tacking w/o filler and just blows a hole in the edge or doesn't create enough heat to connect at all. Had better results when directing the torch a fraction away from the cut edge until a puddle starts...

Have wanted to learn how to weld for many years and finally picked up a Miller Mig a couple years back and more recently a Prime Weld Tig machine. I kept hearing how much more difficult Tig is compared to Mig and have to say... yes it is! I find it especially difficult trying to connect 1/2 inch squ...