Grigg, I'm an amateur not a professional welder. I first learned tig in a welding class in the 1960s and then didn't touch it until 40 years later.
I tried it again when my wife wanted a lightweight aluminum cart for her dog to pull in competition. I bought a new Miller Synchrowave 200. By then I had totally forgotten the technique and my welds were awful.
After trying to relearn the skills on my own and no longer being even close to the "stack of dimes" bead I took the same welding class again that I had taken 40 years earlier. In the class I used squarewave machines like my Miller and inverter machines and simple cups and gas lenses.
I found that the less techy and cheaper squarewave type machine was easier for me to use. I also found that the gas lenses gave me two distinct advantages. First, I could stick the tungsten out farther to access the inside corner joints and control the puddle much better. Also, to my amazement, slightly touching the tungsten to the puddle or the filler rod did not contaminate the tungsten, requiring regrinding. If the contamination was very minor I could simply keep going. Doing the same thing with a cup sent me to the grinder every time to maintain weld quality.
Again, I'm an amateur and need all the help I can get, especially at age 66 next month.
I don't know how to post pictures here but if anyone wants to see an example of my work I can send a picture to a regular email address. To me, the value of forums like Stovebolt is guys helping each others do tasks themselves rather than spending a ton of money with "professionals". If I can relearn tig, anyone can learn or relearn it.
In fact I have never understood how car guys or anyone else can take personal pride in work done by others, whether it's welding, metal straightening, painting or mechanical work. That view made me an oddball in the VCCA and I finally dropped out after being a member for over 40 years.
