I have a Miller pro and I have had numerous problems with it also. I bought the hot rod model to show hometown pride. The lens takes 45 mins to turn off by itself and will turn on when you strike an arc, you don't have to turn it on. If the hobby model has the "X" mode, it works better wit...

I have always preferred sharpening my tungsten on a grinder. I feel it just makes for a better arc. I hold it vertical to the wheel and let the groove do the work and dip it water then clean it off. I don't know what wheel/s I had been using in the past, but the harder the better. I have never had o...