Material for teaching welding?

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I was trying to teach MIG welding to someone who had some welding experience.   We were working on T joints on 20 ga steel.   He had a very hard time with this, blowing holes through the material, moving at a non-uniform speed, etc.   I turned down the machine a couple of times, but he still blew holes through the upper part of the T.   When I ran a bead it came out pretty uniform.   I think that he may have had trouble seeing the puddle and it's surroundings, even though he had corrective lenses in his automatic helmet.  Obviously I overestimated his skill, and underestimated the difficulties of welding 20 ga.  What sequence would you guys use in terms of teaching MIG welding?   Start with 1/8 inch stock?  Later go down to 14 ga?  Should 20 ga be reserved for those with a lot of welding experience?Sculptures in copper and other metalshttp://www.fergusonsculpture.comSyncrowave 200 Millermatic 211Readywelder spoolgunHypertherm 600 plasma cutterThermal Arc GMS300 Victor OA torchHomemade Blacksmith propane forge
Reply:Definitely start on some thicker material. 20 gauge beads would be difficult for a lot of experienced welders that haven't worked with thin gauge. If you want to get into drag racing, you don't start in a 6500 HP top fuel car. 20 gauge would warp all over the place too. I'd say start with at least 1/8" and preferably 3/16" if you have a 220 machine. You need to learn what to look for and how to control the puddle before you start working with sheet metal. You'd just get frustrated trying to learn on thin gauge material.
Reply:1/8" is what the tech school uses. I wouldn't go thinner than 16 ga for some one new. 14 ga would be a good compromise between cost and thickness, and would be my choice if you have a smaller 110v mig. The only time I'd start any thinner would be if all they wanted to do is auto body work. Then I'd go with similar thickness material to what they needed to use. But I'd teach it completely different than I teach welding at the tech school. Thin sheet like that I wouldn't teach them "beads" I'd teach them to do small "tacks" and move around. Also most of the info would be on stuff like fitup since it plays such a large role in your success with thin sheet..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