I've been doing the nasty, and it it finally coming together. So I can now pull a puddle and get a somewhat functional bead with Al (of course the very occasional burn thru) on .025 al sheet. I still have a problem with joining two aluminum angles to produce a sq tube, but I think keeping the torch moving in an arc over the angles is the solution. I'm just on a personal mission to do this even though I will probably succumb to one of the newer pulsed tig millers coming out soon. It is a fun challenge that at first seemed like gray ash would be the result everytime. I have a Henrob but really could do just as well with my old Victor Journeyman setup outside of the very small tips needed.
So the questions.
1) How long does it take to normally become proficient with al and OAW?
2) Can the masters do the beer can to beer can with OAW and have TIG like results?
3) Since I will seldom do AL in my hobbies (and if I do it will be sheet or will be bonded), should I just get a cheapo Harbor Freight TIG and play with DCEP?
4) I can get TIG like beads with steel but nowhere close with Al. Tinmans better than tig with weld with a victor cutting torch is just killing me. Am I just putting myself through his for naught or would Kent's or Ron Fournier's video help to take me to that level?
Thanks