Black around the weld

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I have been playing with my new Miller 252 with the 20A spoolgun for some aluminum welding. This is my first mig. Up until now I have only used the TIG method. Anyway, the beads of the weld look fine, however I get a lot of black residue on both sides of the weld, but not on the weld. Is this normal for this process?I am using the push method.Last edited by ratherbefishin; 11-07-2009 at 01:54 PM.Reason: Forgot to mention the method.Miller 252Miller 30A SpoolgunMiller Auto-Darkening Elite HelmetHypertherm PowerMax 30
Reply:it is common for mig to do that wipe it down after cooled  could be a bit of contamination just from wire or air being introducedwhat are your settings as far as, gas flow-wire speed-volts-and type of gas
Reply:Absolutely normal. Just some oxides and residue from contaminants, etc. In a perfect world there is less, in a dirty world there is more.     Do a few test welds, saw them in half, bend test them etc to prove out your settings.past work toys; lathes,mills, drills, saws,  robots, lasers ironworker, shears, brake, press, grinders, tensile tester,  torches, tigs, migs, sticks, platten table, positioner,  plasmas , gleeble and spot. Retired June 30, 2009.