Free Hand Tig Advice Needed

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Hey all this is my first post because ive stumbled into a problem while welding aluminum,Im trying to free hand tig weld an outside corner joint on my boat transom and I keep dipping my tungstenI do okay when I have a hand support but when free handing i seem to dip it pretty regularlyTo combat this I switched from my usual setup (#7 cup with 3/8 stickout) to a #5 cup with barely any stickout but now my arc is wandering pretty badIm welding using a Vulcan protig 205 and 17 torch The joint is .100 outside corner with good fitup and prep, 3/32 tungsten and a nice ball at the end What is the best cup size and stickout for free handing an outside corner joint?Should I put my tungsten in even further? Can a dirty tungsten cause arc wandering? Any suggestions would be appreciated ! Thanks guys
Reply:Use a support like "the tig finger."  Allows you to drag a finger and not get burned.That's what I do - cheap and easy.

https://weldmongerstore.com/collecti...cts/tig-fingerDave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Thank you sir will try it!
Reply:or a clamp of some kind to rest your hand onMiller Multimatic 255
Reply:

Originally Posted by Kenny Youmans

Hey all this is my first post because ive stumbled into a problem while welding aluminum,To combat this I switched from my usual setup (#7 cup with 3/8 stickout) to a #5 cup with barely any stickout but now my arc is wandering pretty badIm welding using a Vulcan protig 205 and 17 torch The joint is .100 outside corner with good fitup and prep, 3/32 tungsten and a nice ball at the end What is the best cup size and stickout for free handing an outside corner joint?Should I put my tungsten in even further? Can a dirty tungsten cause arc wandering?