Some good posts already. I really can't add much because it's already been said. Just backing up the prcedures that others have mentioned. We have always purged with Nitrogen and we would meter the pipe before any welding is to be done. Never really had issues welding the pipe after the all clear on...

I'm assuming your using 3/32. I normally run that at around 45-55amps.

You probably will be fine. Your gaining about 15ksi of tensile strength. The only issue is that the stainless will work harden which could pose a problem (but probably not), where the 70s-6 steel wire would have better ductility.

Definitely ask questions. Sometimes it's a question that we need to find the answer to so we all learn something. Also what you sometimes see on the videos is a piece that is heated up or preheated. This will increase the welding speed along with some techniques. I usually see my students slowing do...

to illustrate the pulse settings in my class, I have the students set up at:
1 pps
95 peak
5 background

this will tell you if the pulse is working. No way to miss it.

I even have my 14yr old daughter looking at welds now. A scary place to look at welds is the traveling carnivals that pop during the spring and summer. Eeek.

All good advice. The only thing I can really add is to look around you and see if there is going to be anywhere that can deflect sparks back at you. Nothing fun with that. And air arcing is the process I got burned the most on than any other process. Good Luck.

Usually just think about stuff I need to do around the house. One of the hard things for me is talking while welding. As an instructor you kind of do it some but it's not comfortable to me. I also find I put my tongue into my cheek when I weld, which makes talking even harder.

I'm fairly new here but I am probably going. Depends on the funds available from school.

I always have to remind the students that overhead doesn't mean it has to be over your head. Don't reach for it. I like to duck down a bit to get under. Tight arc gap and not much angle. You really have to find what's comfortable for you. I tend to be pretty perpendicular to the plate where some lik...

This is one of those things that I show in my demos for the students. Sometimes the peeling of the slag is a good indicator that the gap, speed, and amps where good on that weld, but the temp of you practice piece will play a part in this too. The hotter the practice piece gets the less you see that...

There are probably a 100 answers to this question if you ask around. Green (100% tungsten) was used quite often. It works but it balls up and some will tell you to ball it before welding anyway. Green tends to not hold up great after awhile. It will start getting micro fractures in the tungsten and ...

It's about gap control and angle. I have my students use scrap pipe and make them do stringer passes on the outside of the pipe which is a little harder than the fill passes for the test. You get those down then you'll be in good shape.

Yeah, I agree on checking out the community colleges in the area and see what they offer. We only charge $160 a credit hour. Also taking a class would really help you figure out if you REALLY like welding, and what kind of welding you prefer. I get guys that really gravitate toward the GTAW side and...

I would just try and find scrap and or remnants from some steel suppliers but if you want actual test coupons, you can order them through a few places like:
http://www.fischerengr.com/
http://www.trieng.com/coupons.html

Thanks guys. I appreciate it.

Hey Guys, Thought I would say hello and introduce myself a bit. I've been a welder for 20 years, lead instructor at a small college in Dearborn, MI and a CWI. I have been an instructor for 14 years. We focus our program on maintenance welding and pipe welding. Hopefully I can contribute a bit to thi...