Hi,

My welding in amateurish. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes not so good. If you can't be consistent then...

:)

But I do find TIG welding aluminum much easier than steel or stainless. The puddle is much easier to see so I am much better at controlling the heat and puddle size/position. But the aluminum has to be cleaned (stainless steel toothbrush, acetone wipe etc) and best it have it warmed up a little. 

When I do get in the groove stainless steel welding is sweet. But I have a long way to go before I feel as comfortable as I do feel with aluminum.

I wish the vanagon was made of aluminum :)

Alistair

> On Feb 22, 2014, at 9:08 AM, Zeitgeist <gruengeist@gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> I'm very much enjoying your adventures with TIG welding.  I recently tried my hand at welding stainless with a new TIG unit, and was deeply ashamed with the mediocre results.  I welded up a flexpipe for the exhaust on a Syncro, but it looks to be assembled by two five year olds melting grey crayons with a magnifying glass.  I fully expect aluminum to similarly bring shame and family dishonor to my shop.  You go right ahead and keep raising the bar that much higher, 'cause I've accumulated years of hubris which gets stripped away by the sting of envy and self-loathing  
> 
> 
>> On Fri, Feb 21, 2014 at 7:25 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@shaw.ca> wrote:
>> I'm still plugging away it this project, still making it up as I go. Some progress made on the swing away tire carrier:
>> 
>> http://shufti.wordpress.com/2014/02/20/vanagon-swing-away-tire-carrier-more-on-the-latch/
>> 
>> 
>> Alistair
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Casey