Beginner TIG questions

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I am following DSW's methodology as outlined here:  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ng-to-tig-weldI have upgraded my wp-17 torch with a stubby gas lens kit from CK, and am using 3/32 gold band tungsten. I am practicing on 2X6 1/8th plates that are ground clean on both sides. I am scratch starting using my Stickmate LX @100 amps DCEN. I am not using filler rod yet, just running the puddle across the plateI am running into a situation where after a couple of beads, I am having trouble maintaining the arc. The machine starts to bog down as if I had stuck or buried the electrode, makes a whole lot of noise then the ARC goes out. I know for sure I am not dragging the tungsten. Is this just contamination? Or what is causing this?When scratch starting, how often should I be stopping to sharpen the electrode?Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:Originally Posted by Louie1961I am following DSW's methodology as outlined here:  http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ng-to-tig-weldI have upgraded my wp-17 torch with a stubby gas lens kit from CK, and am using 3/32 gold band tungsten. I am practicing on 2X6 1/8th plates that are ground clean on both sides. I am scratch starting using my Stickmate LX @100 amps DCEN. I am not using filler rod yet, just running the puddle across the plateWhen scratch starting, how often should I be stopping to sharpen the electrode?
Reply:No, I am not running that long.Miller Multimatic 255
Reply:You might check the connection between the stinger and the power lug, make sure the stinger is nice and clean along with the lug. If that doesn't work try running some beads with the stick welder.
Reply:@ Louie1961 - way to take a systematic approach to learning GTAW.  Cool.  (Re)check your ground connection.  You may be experiencing a blockage of electron flow.  Interesting.  Ground cable close:close to your work piece?  Post images of your tungsten pre-burn and after-burn, as well as your good and bad beads.  What's your shielding gas flow-rate?  Not an issue, but jam your current up to 125A DCEN as a baseline.  We'll figure out what's amiss with the autogenous."Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi
Reply:I will do that tonight, after I service my stickmate. It needs to be cleaned out, shunt blocks lubed, and anti-vibration screws tightened. Ground cable is a good call. I was not grounded directly to the coupon. Hadn't thought about that one before. I will clean everything up, resharpen the tungsten and take some pics. Thanks.Miller Multimatic 255