First Weld - Kinda

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Woohoo...made my first welds today, well, kinda.  They were my first Oxy-Acetylene welds.  I have been trained in using TIG to join thin steel sheet.Posting your first weld seems to be a rite of passage on this board...and I am pleased to finally be moving forward with welding (most joining done in my studio is with solid rivets).While I learned TIG at a metal shaping course, OA was all self-taught.  Between YouTube, books, and other sources.  I've been slowly gathering the equipment and supplies.  Finally went to the scrap dealer the other day and got some material to practice with (50 cents/pound).First weld: On the 3/16 plate, I used a #3 Victor tip on a Victor 100 torch.Second weld: On the 1/8" strip, I used a #2 Victor tip on a Victor 100 torch.I know, I know..."show me the root..."  I also ran the second weld through the band saw, for a little destructive testing.  The root didn't look to me quite like I had full penetration, but the cut shows at least 'nearly all the way through.'  Of course, I am hardly an expert at evaluating the root of a weld or a cut through a weld.Here's an old pic of my new (to me) setup...I'm heading toward welding thin aluminum sheet, but the DVD I am watching (Tinman Tech's Welding Aluminum - Kent White) recommends not starting on aluminum (which is why I made the trip to the scrap yard--all of my studio scrap is aluminum).I suspect my main use for welding in the shop will be making steel benches and forms for bending aluminum sheet.  I picked Oxy-Acetylene as the first process in my studio for its relatively small startup cost and versatility (if I am only going to have one process, I want it to do as many things as possible).I'm not particularly looking for a critique of the welds...I am just celebrating the addition of new equipment and a new process to my studio.KevKevin / Machine_Punk from The Aerodrome Studio - Lincoln PowerMIG 210 MP - Meco N Midget w/custom welding station - Vintage Victor 100Current Projects: The Aerodrome Studio
Reply:Good Luck to you. Gas welding alum is crazy difficult. I use my gas welder for silver brazing ferrous and copper alloys, and annealing of aluminum for forming. That and flame bending. Have fun and let us know how it goes.Weld like a "WELDOR", not a wel-"DERR" MillerDynasty700DX,Dynasty350DX4ea,Dynasty200DX,Li  ncolnSW200-2ea.,MillerMatic350P,MillerMatic200w/spoolgun,MKCobraMig260,Lincoln SP-170T,PlasmaCam/Hypertherm1250,HFProTig2ea,MigMax1ea.