A couple of things -- #1 -- that end of the blade can only take so much heat before it affects everything you do. You need more metal to practice on... otherwise you're trying to compensate for metal that is already hot as hell.
#2 --- penetration is controlled by amperage - voltage (which is your wire feed dial on that machine I think) -- and travel speed. Sorry -- but that's all called "learning to weld". HAHAHAHAHAHA because it's a little of everything combined.
#3 --- rarely do I move the torch in any pattern unless the weld area calls for it. If I'm welding vertical UP -- in a corner - Yeah... I'd have to travel to both sides of the job to make the weld. On two pieces of flat material - laying on a table - tight fit up --- no motion is required. Push or pull. I usually PULL when I'm welding thicker material as I think it carries more heat into the material --- or I'll go a little more upright on the torch and bury more wire... or..... Well -- again -- it all depends - depends on where your head is vs the piece... the gap -- the angle of the pieces or whatever. Sometimes a guy has to weld left handed to get into a spot. Sometimes the particular style of oscillation is the type of weld you're making. Vertical up on a flat seam is one thing --- an inside corner with a gap is another...
BTW - not being a smart ass here.... it just is so variable.
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