new to this and new to welding

[fun4now]

if u want to make a perfect aluminum bead, you have to have experience

Practice, practice and practice on AL, will get you the above. experience comes from doing, Practice is doing. every one had to start at some point. yes its a tuff weld compaired to steel, but doable. if you want to weld aluminum jump in and get started at it. get some scrap (cut off's) so you have nothing to fear about screwing it up. clean it up and start Practiceing. in time your beads will be good solid welds and some time after that they will start looking nice too. wory about a good solid hold first, looks second. take your time and dont rush it.
if you have some thing comming up soon that needs aluminum welded its probly best to sub it out. take your time and learn it right.

[Jolly Roger]

The technique for TIG welding aluminum is the same as o/a welding steel. If you are competent with o/a welding then TIG on AL is an easy step. Cleaning of the weld area is absolutely necessary on aluminum. I use alcohol and then brush it with a stainless wire wheel (the wire wheel can't be used on anything except aluminum otherwise it is contaminated) and have always had good results. Start low and go slow adjusting as your skills improve.

[fun4now]

(the wire wheel can't be used on anything except aluminum otherwise it is contaminated)
good point, i keep every thing i use for aluminum on the other side of the shop so i get no mix up's.

[c wagner]

(the wire wheel can't be used on anything except aluminum otherwise it is contaminated)
good point, i keep every thing i use for aluminum on the other side of the shop so i get no mix up's.

Unless it's stainless your using it on, if it touches carbon steel mark it as such and get another one for the stainless/ aluminum projects.
It's a great feeling when you get good at it!!!

[fun4now]

i dont even risk it on SS, only use it on aluminum. better to be safe then sorry.

[safetydave]

So you have to have experience if you are still learning and upgrading your knowledge in welding aluminum

HI Slo Iron Man
I do have experience welding Aluminum but it didn't come easy I had to work at it twice as much as the other guys because they already had the know how as for me I would practice every chance I got on my breaks or lunch even after hours(nice boss's) but once I got it I kept at it and now I have surpassed the others with my quality and knowledge of Aluminum welding, so yes it does take alot of practice if you really want to be good at it but once you get the hang of it you will increase your skills and $$$$$ I now get 2-3$$ more then others in the shop because they don't know how to weld in all areas mig,tig,stick and to be able to weld consistently with good quality every time. So practice,practice as much as you can and you will get it, we all started welding at some point in our trade. Hope this helps you.

[walterjacque]

than i guess practice is the key to this, I weld with just mig as i can't seem to get an arc going with a stick welder, and have never tried to tig weld. And I have learned through the school of hard knocks by trial and error. anyways thanks for all the input