[JAH]

Originally Posted by Gdeaver

TIG takes allot more time to master. Difficult welds usually can be done better with Tig. Tig is expensive. The one piece of equipment I would spend some money on is a good wide view variable auto darkening welding helmet. It makes a big difference when your learning. >Learn to weld steel well first, then tackle aluminum. Most welding supply houses will have a book on welding and I think its Modern Welding. The only way to learn to weld is practice and practice and practice.

Gdeaver is exactly correct on a lot of this. Welding aluminum takes a great deal of practice and time. An auto-darkening welding helmet is near must for a new welder. It helped me greatly when I learned. I however, learned to do aluminum before steel. It really makes me appreciate things more. I got good at welding aluminum then tried to do some steel real quick on a little project, I was amazed at how fast it would pool and stay so contained. I learned most of what I know from a new mentor for Cyber Blue, but Miller offers a guide to welding on their website, near 80 pages and you get it with any Miller welder, or you can download it offline for free. I recommend it. If you want to weld aluminum full time, TIG is the only way to go. On rare occasion, MIG would work. As many others have said, the amps just aren't there in smaller MIG welders to really be able to do aluminum. Aluminum takes a lot more power than steel. If you're interested, I use a Miller Syncrowave 180 SD. It's a great machine for the money. Hope I added something.