Tig Beginner Needs Help

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Gday all,i recentley purchased my new boswell 200 amp inverter stick/tig welder. just to get you all up to speed i have no idea how to use it i have done a fair bit of stick welding at work as i am a builder, but this is as far as my welding skills go. I understand the basic values of a stick welder and its functions but am becoming confused with the new one, my first question is,,,1) as far as i can make out in the poor instruction manual it directs me to put the earth to the posative terminal in my welder when using tig  is this correct? and for that matter when in stick welding mode there is a picture of an earth clamp above the posative terminal and a picture of a stick handpice above the negative? this seems back to front to me?2) after finishing a weld in tig mode the machine makes a high pitched whine is this normal? possabley the gas continuing or somthing? but the noise is only for a few seconds after u finish running a weld, (not a very loud noise just confusing)3) i have a earth pin at the back of the machine that needs to be earthed, the manual said to protect it from static electricity or leakage.. how important is this and how good an earth dose it require?4) there are 2 dials and 2 switches on the machine, one dial is amps (no probs) the other has a symbol similar to this if u can imagine     _^_ it goes from 0 to 5s what is its function??????- i have an idea that it is how long the gas continues after you finish weldingswitches.....one switch toggles between stick and tig mode (easy) and one is a switch from 2t to 4t what is that??the welding part is somthing i will enjoy practicing and advancing slowly but its hard to start without knowing these basics/you may be able to answer only one or two of my questions but any info will be gratley appreciated. cheers for your patiencebrad
Reply:1 Tig is DC NEG electrode      Stick can be DCEN or most common DCEP depending on the rod. 2 I know nothing about your machine, but if its workin, ignore it. 3 The machine should be grounded, but it doesn't have to be.  IF you have AC HF it will help cut down on interference of other things on the same circuit. 4 2t and 4t are tig functioins.  For now leave it on 2T if you have a foot pedal or hand remote that changes the welding current.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:thanks david.... can anyone else shed some more light?????
Reply:2)  I also know nothing about your machine, but I've got a Miller Dynasty 200, and it too whines.  Inverters have an odd sound.  They hum and squeal in ways that you wouldn't expect, but its nothing to be concerned with.3) Well, if your machine has a high frequency for TIG, it is probably a good idea to follow the instructions for grounding, but other than interfering with the neighbor's TV's, it shouldn't harm too much to leave it disconnected.  I would hope that your power cord provides proper grounding for the case anyway.4) That dial sounds very much like postflow.  It is to keep the weld area covered by the inert gas while it cools, AFTER you have stopped the arc (so once you're done welding, keep the torch in place, until the gas stops).I've heard a general rule of thumb to have one second of postflow for every 10 welding amps.I personally find that ok for aluminum and stainless, but you can get away with much less for mild steel.  YMMV.2-t and 4-t determine how the contact switch works (a trigger switch, NOT a pedal).Pedals should act like 1-touch, where you press & hold, until you end the arc.In 2-touch, you pull the trigger once to start the program, and again to start its end.4-touch is a bit more complicated.
Reply:thanks rlitman..i didnt think that the squeal was a major concern but it is good to hear it from somone else for peice of mind.. brad
Reply:"I've heard a general rule of thumb to have one second of postflow for every 10 welding amps."so what your saying is if im welding at 200 amps i should have 20 seconds of postflow?i dont think so...http://www.aloumac.ca/
Reply:Originally Posted by Matthew"I've heard a general rule of thumb to have one second of postflow for every 10 welding amps."so what your saying is if im welding at 200 amps i should have 20 seconds of postflow?i dont think so...