When you weld it is critical that you get as comfortable as possible so that you can make smooth controlled consistent movements to make a good looking and proper weld. If you can you should prop your hand and arm on something and even lean against something if possible to keep you as steady as possible.This video above helps you position yourself to accomplish this.
If you’re just starting out it can be difficult to get your stick welding (arc welding) machine set and adjusted correctly. I created this video to help you get set up properly and well on your way to learn the art of stick welding.
When you begin stick welding it is best to start out on a flat piece of plate to learn how to run beads. Once you learn how to run a bead you should practice running straight beads on the plate and stack them together tightly overlapping at least one third onto the previous bead. This will help you learn to prevent trapping slag between the beads and help you creat nice uniform welds.