Welding Tips and Tricks

I'm new to welding. Took a short course at the CC, mostly stick. Got an old Farm Hand 125 running FC on 1/8" mild steel.
I have trouble keeping up with the puddle and seeing my intended weld line.
I'm wearing my glasses plus a 2.25 lens in the helmet. I try to work in good day light and or add a lamp. Got helmet set on 9.
Polarity is right, good ground right on the work, clean metal, flat bench work placement.
Is there a video that delineates the puddle, molten slag, and the other stuff in the view through the helmet? Sometimes it is like the puddle shrinks or disappears.
I occasionally get a decent bead but not very often. Sizzle mostly sounds right. I've melted over a pound of 0.030 wire.
Besides more seat time does anyone have a suggesstion?

Turn your helmet up to 10 or 11.

Do you need the cheater in the helmet?

Consider a different lens color. This may mean going to a fixed lens, or a higher-quality auto-lens.

The color difference between the puddle and the slag immediately behind is subtle.

With practice, you won't need the color difference, as you'll be watching the "wetting out" beside and immediately behind the arc, and not what's going on behind the puddle.

Steve S