tungstin stick out question

[dadsmad]

hi i am new at tig welding and have lurked around this site for a while. what i have is a red square wave 175. i want to weld 20 ga. sheet metal with it and am wondering how are the tungstin sticks out of the gas cup for mild steel.
thanks gary

[Pangea]

Easiest way to do it is to loosen the cap, put the cup against an inside corner and tighten the cap with the tungsten extended until it touches. I have welded with a shorter and longer stick out but this method will get you going and its accurate and repeatable every time.

[Rocky D]

The stickout depends largely on whether you are using a gas screen lens or collet body in your torch. Roughly 1/2"...on the big gas screen lens, you can go 1" or more.

[dadsmad]

thanks guys now all i need to do is practice
thanks again gary