Fired up my new-to-me Square Wave TIG 175 this morning

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It was a fun morning. I'm brand new to TIG welding, and my dad is letting me borrow his Square Wave TIG 175 while I save for my own machine. It's been collecting dust in his garage for the past 13 years or so I think. I got back from Lincoln's TIG welding class a couple of weeks ago and I wanted to pick up where I left off as quickly as possible. I got the machine up and running this morning.I had some scrap tubing to try it out on (I run a business building bicycle frames). This is 1-1/4" OD 0.028" wall butted against 1-1/4" OD 0.036" wall. I had it set just a bit over 30 amps for max amps and used the pedal as best I could. The machine ran great after many years of sitting idle. I was using a 1/16" tungsten at the class. This has 3/32" at the moment. The starts were a little harder. I have some 1/16" consumables on order. I'm just happy I can start practicing again. I'm really working hard on torch angle. Any feedback would be great. Don't worry...I have very thick skin and I really just want to learn. Thanks!
Reply:Wow!! Nice work man!! Looks like someone paid attention in class [Account Abandoned 8/8/16 Please Do Not Attempt Contact Or Expect A Reply]. See you on YouTube! -ChuckE2009
Reply:Thanks! I have to say that after brazing frames and forks together for the past 13 years, I am really enjoying the welding. It's so much cleaner. I am super motivated to keep practicing. I'd really like to be able to weld up some frames by the fall.
Reply:Looks pretty decent. Looks like you contaminated your tungsten as I noticed the rusty looking smoke. Practice grinding tungsten as much as you practice welding and you will be fine.
Reply:Oh yeah, the grinder was getting quite a workout today. I was getting a little frustrated because I only have the one tungsten at the moment. I would just start going and then dip it in the puddle or hit it with the filler. Get up, walk across the shop, sharpen, and then go back and dip it in again. Doh! It'll be nice having 10 sharpened and sitting on the bench when my new stuff arrives.
Reply:Looks like a real good start.  I had a 175 for a bit and didn't have the time to use it and realized as I usually do thick stuff that a few more amps would be good.   so sold it an now waiting on consumables for my 300...  should have plenty of amps for it now...  if you have done a lot of OA and brazing it should be pretty easy to transition to TIG as the heat and filler idea and motions are similar.  one thing I did like was a fingertip heat control instead of the pedal.   it was handy for doing out of position tig.Tiger Sales:  AHP Distributor    www.tigersalesco.comAHP200x; AHP 160ST; MM350P,  Spoolmatic 30A; Everlast PowerTig 185; Thermal Dynamics 60i plasma.  For Sale:  Cobra Mig 250 w/ Push-pull gun.  Lincoln Wirematic 250
Reply:Keep going, you're doing pretty good. It's refreshing to see someone who's taken the time to get some quality training and has a fairly realistic goal they are trying to achieve, compared to all the "I'm just learning on my own and want to do alum tig..." posts..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan