sounds like you are on the right track from the earlier posts. As to the polarity thing. DC current flows from the negative pole to the positive pole. The heat flows the same way as the current, so, if you hook up your system with the electrode positive (backwards) then the flow of heat and current is from the work piece to the electrode. The electrode heats up and burns up. On the other hand if the electrode is negative, then the flow of current and heat flows TO the work piece, creates a molten puddle an now your welding. This is true only with steel or stainless. Aluminum requires AC high frequency currently to weld. The high freq AC cleans the oxide that forms on the surface of Alunimun. As another helping hint. When you point your tungsten for steel or stainless finish grind the tip so the grind marks are parallel to the electrode. Think of this as the electrons looking for a place to jump off the electrode. When you grind marks are parallel they stay on to the electrode until they get to the tip. Try it both ways and I think you will see the difference. Bad grind, a fuzzy hard to direct arc- good grind, a sharp concentrated arc.
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