Thanks M’dave! Appreciate your direct-to-the-top reply.

I'm way new to MIG + spool guns & Aluminum so don't be put off if what I'm posting isn't what you want to hear... 0.045" wire seems large from what I've read; I'd been messing with 0.030" 4043 with 0.030" tips for 3/16" (0.190") 6061 recently. Seemed to work well enough ...

Using 1/8" wall L, wondering what's best for how to cut for 90° joints prior to spool-gunning the seams? (Thread I opened here Saturday gives details of what I have to accomplish this.) Be better to cut back wall ends to flat surfaces then run a bead in between (left side in image) or try to de...

Suggestions all welcome, thanks! Taking it seriously, I’ve downsized my project’s specs to fit better with equipment capability. I tend to overbuild stuff so picked 3/16” L-stock at the get-go, before deciding I wanted to weld it up rather than bolt it together. Solid reasons to re-spec for 1/8” wal...

Right... recall reading about the oversize bore tips to overcome the expansion aluminum wire will do when heated. So far I'm using 0.030" 4043 wire in a spool gun, the 0.030" tips seem to be adequate as I'm not doing any long seams. Can source 0.035" locally if need be. That blow thru...

imho the metal is too thick for that machine. you might sneak it in with a bit of a pre heat. Wondered about the pre-heat stuff. Have propane torch handy, could use that. Risking contamination? however you will be hitting the duty cycle of the machine. No big deal. Joints I'm doing are no longer th...

OK so no 'bacon-frying' sound, it's a hiss I want to aim for. Amperage needed isn't so much for penetration but to generate spray so penetration comes from the resulting heat once spray's deposited? Stick-out ought to be more than what I'd been using? Initial trials were @ ~ 3/8". Good thing it...

Thickish-skinned newbie here. Got an itch to build frame for something ( not life-supporting) out of 3/16" 6061 angle. Done some stick maybe 50 years ago, oxy-fuel a little after that, otherwise nothin'. Acquired a Forney #322 140MP last fall, added #85653 spool gun, 130 cu ft 100% Argon, pound...

Done stick & oxy/acetylene years ago. Goal now is to become reasonably proficient in GMAW for home projects with aluminum. Serious DIY'er, no slouch when it comes to getting in over my head with tools but with an open mind I've earned a 'fast learner' reputation.