I like the dice, cool project.
I also like Hank Williams

I would jump in with you on this Oscar, but I really don't ever weld Ti.

Sorry bud.

At work we use a welding rod especially made for removing broken bolts/studs. We buy them from Lawson, it really saves our bacon with the Sterling trucks, they break exhaust manifold studs like crazy. And almost never flush or proud, always break below surface ugghh!

Back in high school the teachers told us to drink milk if we got galvi sick lol. And put wet tea bags on our eyes if we got flashed. I used to weld for a fence company and welded a ton of galvanized pipe. Exhaust fan and respirator and don't put your face over the plume and I could do it 12hrs a day...

Red wing here, had good luck with them. I have 1 winter and 1 summer pair. I use the toe bumpers too, I used to think they were kinda dumb but they actually do a great job of protecting the toe for me, I am on my knees a lot on concrete and the toes take a beating. My winter boots will go back to th...

That looks great nice job!

I weld on oil trucks too and it can be in a real pita to remove the oil. A lot of our newer trucks use SS for the product piping which doesn't have the same problem.
There is no secret way to remove it that we have found, we prep the same as you do, acetone and wire brush, etc.

Uh oh
Remind me not to invite you to my house, I'd be too embarrassed! lol j/k

We use these green grinding wheels for aluminum, they don't load up like regular grinding wheels. Not sure who we get them from, I'll check.

Wow I don't know if I've seen much steel guardrail with wood posts. Nice job.
I worked in the fence industry both in the field and as a welder.

Welcome to the site.

Another happy HTP owner here, not to sound like a broken record but I also love my machine a ton, very happy with it's performance!
Your welds look great for first time. I haven't even used the pulse on mine yet lol!

I usually use 3/32 and set the point either sharp or blunted depending on use?

That thing is awesome! I would love to build a cooker like that someday!
Great job on everything, right down to the details!

I like to weld aluminum too, it's definitely more challenging than steel is. At least to me anyways lol.

I am a mechanic as well and you're definitely doing the right thing by learning how to weld. It comes in handy in so many instances. Good luck!

These guys already said it better than I could, but they are so right, practice is key to TIG welding. After a while you will get pretty good at it and then you will look at these pics and you will be able to see what's wrong and then how to fix it.

Welcome!
This is a great community of helpful folks.

Welcome to the forum, so many helpful people here, you'll find your answer in no time!

Very nice job on this, I used to work for a fence company, did a bunch of railings of different types.
You are very skilled, that came out great!

I have an HTP Invertig 221 and I sharpen to a sharp point also on A/C, usually 3/32 2% Lanthanated and it will form a small ball at the end after a while. As long as the ball stays small and the bead narrow, I just leave it. The arc stays very stable even with slightly balled electrode. I was using ...

Looks pretty good for first attempt IMHO

6 days here, 7 sometimes from Oct to April/May

Those beads look great vitee!

LMAO been there done that!