You're totally right, umamartin. That invisible dust is the real problem. A good mask is non-negotiable even with water.

Totally get you, @jones.anna, that drives me nuts.

Did you eat the jalapeno hat or just admire it?

How do you keep the angle consistent through the whole cut?

Nah, that's just part of the job. You get a feel for when the core wash is getting soft from the ladle heat. I keep a bucket of dry sand mix right there to patch and firm it up quick. It's way faster than trying to trowel it back. Sometimes you just have to shield the worst spot with a scrap piece of sheet metal for a few seconds.