2¢ from another "hobby" welder on steel tube junctions. I start with 4 good tack welds 1/2 way down the fish mouth, if that makes sense, which leaves you with 4 segments to weld. I start welding the long legs of the fish, which require the least heat, and finish with the 90° Fillet weld sections, which require more heat. You have to adjust your amps for the geometry of the joint, less for an outside joint, more for an inside corner. Also, with pieces that small, you will have to stop welding a few times to let it cool down. I don't even fully weld junctions in one shot on a full frame. It puts in too much heat, and things tend to move around more.
Visibility is also crucial. I often divide small tube joints into 1/8th's so I can reposition. You can't see the puddle if you're looking "through" the arc glare due to a bad working angle.
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