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Strike your arc and watch closely for the aluminum to start to melt. Unlike steel, aluminum does not change color as it melts. Instead, you'll see it turn a dull gray and then get very shiny, almost like a mirror. It liquefies right after that. When the puddle forms, dip the filler rod into the puddle and move to the left (if you're right-handed), maintaining enough heat to keep the puddle intact. It's a delicate balance of amperage, torch angle, and travel speed. Chancy likens the torch to a heater and the filler as the coolant. He recommends beginners keep a mental count as they learn the proper rhythm. Perform this dip/move pattern at roughly two-second intervals, traveling about 10 inches per minute. As you reach the end of the joint, reduce the amperage (heat) and feed slightly more filler rod; there is less area for the heat to go at the edge of the joint, and it's easy to burn a hole in the end of the bead. View Related Article
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