In　conventional　arc　welding　processes,　an　electrode　only　establishes　an　arc　with　the　workpiece.　As　such,　the　current　through　the　electrode　and　workpiece　is　the　same.　As　has　been　demonstrated,　this　mechanism　fundamentally　restricts　the　ability　to　decouple　the　heat　input　and　deposition.　In　order　to　separately　control　the　mass　and　heat　inputs,　double　electrode　gas　metal　arc　welding　(DE-GMAW),　which　modifies　the　GMAW　by　also　establishing　a　second　arc　from　the　electrode　to　an　added　second　electrode,　and　arcing-wire　gas　tungsten　arc　welding　(GTAW),　which　modifies　the　GTAW　by　establishing　a　second　arc　from　the　electrode　to　the　welding　wire,　have　been　proposed.　Since　both　processes　break　the　conventional　arc,　this　paper　refers　to　them　as　the　divided-arc　welding　process.　While　the　divided-arc　welding　process　promises　a　new　mechanism　to　provide　an　ability　to　decouple　the　mass　and　heat　inputs　as　will　be　demonstrated　in　this　paper,　maintaining　a　stable　arc　division　is　the　key　to　ensuring　the　promised　decoupling　ability　from　this　novel　arc　welding　process.　Studies　are　needed　to　determine　how　the　ability　to　maintain　the　arc　division　is　affected　by　typical　variations　in　manufacturing　conditions.　Unfortunately,　no　such　studies　have　been　reported.　In　this　paper,　the　effect　from　the　variation　in　the　distance　between　the　torch　and　workpiece　(simply　the　torch　height)　is　experimentally　studied.　Since　the　variation　in　the　torch　height　is　probably　the　most　commonly　encountered　variation　in　welding　conditions,　such　a　study　is　significant　in　helping　to　transition　the　divided-arc　welding　processes　from　laboratory　to　manufacturing.