Re: its on my list

No I didn't need to heat the aluminum. If I remember correctly, I just bent the rod in a vice. no heat or anything.

Mig would be fine. A tig is a little cleaner weld, but either would work. Might even be able to braise the nut on too.

The butt plate is thin gauge steel with a nut welded on (like the plug) I capped that with a thin strip of maple. good luck.