aluminium welding 4 a newB

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hello all I just wanted to drop some pics on this aluminium meterial to see what im poss doing wrong? from what I have figured out I keep pulling my filler rod out of the gas shied coverage cause contamination. (black soot in my bead) Im using a diversion165 so it takes a few to heat the material up to lay a solid bead.  1 pic has butt joints(which r ugly I KNOW!) & the other is just laying beads and stacking bead just for seat/practice time to learn the material. I would say getting started seems to be my challange & finishing. please any help would be appreciated like always! again I only have about 14hrs w/no experience, just U all, weldingtipsandtricks and youtube. thanks again Attached Images
Reply:The "soot" (properly referred to as "smut" actually) indicates you are vaporizing/burning something.One potential example cause is, you have some aluminum stuck on your tungsten tip (from touching the tungsten to the aluminum puddle or your filler rod while welding), which when heated during welding (the tungsten tip normally gets hot enough to not only melt, but also to vaporize aluminum), it cause the smut as the aluminum vapor recondenses around the weld area. Solution: grind all the aluminum (and any other contamination) off your tungsten.Another possible explanation: you have just solvent washed your work and started the arc before waiting for the solvent to completely dry/evaporate.  Solution: wait longer for solvent to evaporate being striking an arc, use a quicker drying solvent (such as acetone), and/or use a gentle heat source (such as an electric heat gun or propane torch) to gently pre-heat the part and evaporate the solvent more quickly.Last edited by jakeru; 07-20-2011 at 01:10 PM.
Reply:Use a square and scribe two straight lines 3/8'' apart, when u weld allow each bead to just touch the line, then move forward and do it all over again, helps with keeping a straight bead profile for beginners. Watch your torch angle and keep the tungsten clean. And after you grind the plate, wire brush it by hand!!!! The friction of grinding and wire wheeling aluminum causes instantaneous oxidization. If you do bend tests and break the joint and see bright specs in the weld metal its the oxidization that has accumulated from grinding and wire wheeling( personal experience ) And since your using the 165 machine try some 50 50 Helium Argon or 75 25 Helium Argon as it has puts more heat into the plasma and helps with under powered machines.I forgot how to change this.
Reply:thanks all!
Reply:Those look pretty damn good for a newbie.  Much better than anything I've laid dowm yet.  You have a good touch.
Reply:I like it!Keep going and you will make it!Now weld 2 pieces together.....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.