TIG for the first time: the five things nobody tells you

1. Clean means clean. Stainless brush for aluminum only, acetone wipe, no fingerprints. Contamination shows up as grey sooty welds and a tungsten that balls instantly.
2. Gas lens, not a standard collet body. Better coverage, longer stickout, fewer frustrations. Cheap upgrade.
3. Tungsten sharpening direction matters. Grind lengthwise on the wheel so the grooves run toward the point, or the arc wanders.
4. Foot pedal is a dimmer, not a switch. Start hot to form the puddle fast, back off to travel, taper at the end to fill the crater.
5. Prop your hand. A TIG finger or a glove on the table. Nobody freehands a straight bead at first.

Practice on 1/8" mild steel with no filler first, just running a puddle in a straight line. Add filler only when the puddle stays round and shiny.