
Puddle jumping may be due to everyone welding at the same time, and drawing down your machine so you are not getting full amperage. If you think you are experiencing arc blow, keep your ground close. If that doesn't work, try running your ground cable around the beam once or twice. I cannot tell you what direction, you will have to try it both ways and find out. One way will make an improvement, the other will make it WAY worse.

Onto the 309 rod....The settings & rule of thumb that I gave you were for XX18 series rod. 309 is different. If you have access to the packaging, most manufacturers will give you a range to run their rods in by size, and also give you an optimum amperage that you will want to start with. The Soudotec (SelectArc) rod that I have at the shop shows having a range of 90-110 Amps with optimum amperage at 100 Amps for the 1/8".
As for the cracking....Stainless can be a little tricky. I have job specific experience with it, but am by no means anything close to an expert. A light general preheat will help with any post weld cracking, but I cannot recommend that you do that because of the different compositions and characteristics of the Stainless steels.
The best thing I can suggest is to turn down the amperage while welding with the 309, and if you experience any cold cracking, check with your foreman, or one of the lead hands to see if they have any other ideas for you to try that will fall within your job specific approved procedures.....I know, kind of a cop out, but the last thing I want to do, is tell you to do something and you catch supreme heck because of it.
Hope it helps.
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