Welding Tips and Tricks

If I grind all the oxidation off the coupons, can I still use them to practice welding a beautiful finish, or are they forever cooked? Prefer not keep buying coupons, they're expensive.

At least for aluminum I know a guy who machines them and I can just keep exchanging scraps with him.

Never mind, I found a shop that makes stuff out of stainless steel, he gave me a bunch of 1mm and 1.5mm thick stainless steel sheets I can make coupons out of... Only charged me 6 bucks for it.

sounds good

They're just in too big of a piece for coupons and I need to cut it down, but I don't have a plasma, and I hate using angle grinder to cut it. Is there a better way other than plasma or a shear? These are just 1mm and 1.5mm thick, too thick for tin snips to work.

depending on size your dealing with, hacksaw and elbow grease.