some were some might have been but with a welding instructor who has no clue about tig im not sure they were thick and copper coated but the teacher bought them and he thought the gas should be set at max regulator goes at which was almost 50 cfh
but we had a professional welder come in and...
i know off topic but
everyone say aluminum is hardest i learned it and it was easier for me then steel might have been the machine but aluminum is pretty easy flows well and some time you will get uniform welds