On Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:41:41 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

I don't have a bench grinder but i do have an angle grinder to sharpen
thoriated tungsten electrodes.

I'm having problems with the arc it seems to create bright pulsing
flashes making it very difficult for me to see the arc and weld
puddle.

Possibly way off base here... Are you doing relatively low amperage with
a cheep auto-dark? Only time I have seen what you are describing was
from this. My solution was to switch its sensitivity from low to high.
Solved the flashes, but sometimes the overhead lights (metal halide) set
it off when I'm not actually welding.
--
William