Welding for the first time - need advice

Make sure you are not welding outside if it is windy as the gas will just blow away.Tip should be as close to the metal as possible without touching, about 1/2" and wire should be sticking out about a 1/4".You can back up the metal with a thick piece of copper as that will help stop the blowout and if you are still blowing holes in the piece keep turning up the wire speed till you don`t.Butt welding thin metal is probably the toughest to do without blowing holes so keep doing very short tacks and jump around to keep the heat down.