Thank you. I used cheap flux core. I won't make that mistake again. 😉

Thanks Pieter. The welding is extremely hard causing chatter in the center. Even the pin hardened during the weld, and I don't have the means of annealing it. I don't use flood coolant on the lathe as it sprays me, my shop and camera. The carbide inserts do okay without coolant if the cuts are not interrupted. Thanks for your support!