Just an old welders "tip" -- clean all your metal to BARE metal -- BEFORE you make marks and set up stuff -- that way it's ready to tack without moving stuff.
That bar looks like bare metal but it's not -- it needs to be shiny brite clean metal (ditto the standoffs) and wiped with brake clean (NON CHLORINATED - or the phosgene gas will kill you). I prefer Acetone....
You'll be shocked at how much better your welds will come out. And when you tack -- crank up the heat so the tacks get some penetration or they just become weak spots in the weldment.
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