7018 capping problems on 5in scheduled 120 pipe, please help

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Hi, my name is Paul and I currently have an upcoming weld test for GE in Greenville, SC.  The test is 5 in scheduled 120 carbon pipe, TIG root/hot pass, 7018 filler and cap in 6g position. I have been practicing for this for a few weeks now and seem to keep running into a problem with running the 1st bead when starting to outter set of beads for the cap. My problem is that when I strike the arc and start running that 1st bead after about 2-3 inches I cant see where im going and end up running the bead crooked either away from the filler or into the filler beads. I have tried changing my shade to 9(lowest on my hood), using a magnetic light shinning on the pipe and  even certain angles at which I face the pipe when running that 1st bead and still doesn't seem to help I still end up loosing track on which way im going. I run the amps around 82-85 on the Shopmaster 300 AC/DC machine which seem to be fine heat wise. My main question is that if I use a paint pen or some kind of heat marker to mark a line around the pipe to give me a reference will that cause me to fail on the xray of the pipe or if there is anything else I could try to make it easier to see a good path when running that 1st bead for the final pass on the cap. Thank you
Reply:leave a little bit of bevel to go by, don't fill it up all the way flush.
Reply:Yep like Timmy said leave an edge to follow. Also sounds like you aren't following the electrode all the way around with your head. You need to move so you can see. Are you using 3/32" 7018 for this? Seems a little small for 5" sch 120. Try going up to 90-95 amps with 3/32" 7018, might help you see a little better alsoAirco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:If the inspector allows it grind a small groove with a cutting disk on each side where the bevel was. The metal will flow better and you will have a reference line to follow.
Reply:As said above you should have a clean bevel edge to follow.  Never had a problem with dragging a file over the pipe to highlight this line before starting the cap.  Some testers may differ if this is allowed.