I'm going with TIG.

I tried some MIG welding on scraps of aluminum stock.  It was ugly.

You using billet lowers? I looked at the compatibities with the cast ones and it was a no go. I'd really like to see how it comes out for you.

I'm not going with a billet lower.  Most of the Milspec lowers are forged not cast.  IIRC the standard is forged 7075-T6.  I will most likely soak the lower part of the magwell in some sort of acid to get rid of the hard coat anodizing.

I know it is possible to tig this forged aluminum as I came from the drag racing world.  It is common to tig T6 aluminum cylinder heads whenever need be.  Whether it be to build up material for porting, repairing small failures like running too lean of a mix and the head torched through or worse trying to salvage a catastrophic failure.  I have seen all kinds of miracle fixes with tig, it just takes money.

I'm still searching for the guy that could mimic the bead that looks like coins and that could finish the job in a couple of days once I have the lower in my hands.

[quote
I'm still searching for the guy that could mimic the bead that looks like coins and that could finish the job in a couple of days once I have the lower in my hands.
[/quote]

No one but yourself can work on the lower.  I believe it's a class 7  license to manufacture firearms they would have to have to work on it.   If HPD asked you if you did it and you said no they will confiscate it.

[quote
I'm still searching for the guy that could mimic the bead that looks like coins and that could finish the job in a couple of days once I have the lower in my hands.


No one but yourself can work on the lower.  I believe it's a class 7  license to manufacture firearms they would have to have to work on it.   If HPD asked you if you did it and you said no they will confiscate it.

incorrect

The firearm has already been manufactured by the original FFL07, you are only modifying it.

Tax was paid on the completed stripped lower on a form 2 already. no further tax is required.

Remember the ATF is a tax agency under the Dept of the Treasury , only recently was it transferred to the DOJ. The laws were written to collect taxes.

Cool well if you find a process that works id really like some info. I've been scanning some weld manuals looking for a rod that will work and it looks like using a torch to basically braze it in is the best bet.