gas type and prices??

[surveyboy]

ok, so i'm finally gonna go with gas on my mig welder ( i know, about time)

what gas mixes are you guys running?? and what prices are you paying for tank rentals and gas??

i've got a hobart 135 and it works bitchen. think i might go with a smaller tank at first cause it'll be easier to work with and move around with the welder

[ROXROES]

Locally I was quoted $10/month I believe for rentals, maybe it was $5?

But I ended up just buying a K size, about 9" diameter and 50" tall. Usually its about $200 but they give them to me for $175 and fills are $12.

I run 75/25.

[Panthers65]

75/25 and with a welder that small I'd stick with a small wire too (.023). With a 110V welder you need something that will burn in as deep as possible

[FlexyTJ]

75/25 Silvershield #8, I believe the "Silvershield" is a General Air "brand". I own my 90cf tank (a bit small) and costs around $40-45 to fill.

[void_of_light]

I just got a 125cf tank from tractor supply. $260 for the tank $29 fills They exchange them just like the propane tanks at Walmart or Lowes.

[nsscout]

i run 75/25 argon/co2. leased my tank from weiler for $150 for 15 yrs. just exchange it for a new when empty and cost 25 to 30 ea time to fill. also its about 9" dia and 50" tall. i think those are 144 cu ft?

[got banned]

i got my co2 tank from solan fire in sac, $75 for a full 15# tank and only $17 to fill each time. i run co2 because i have a coke machine, keg, powertank, and welding, and when i run out of one i can steel for another. my welder is a lincoln 140 and i run .023.

[MtnYota]

I've got a tank of 100% argon at work. I know it is used for welding Al, but can I use it for steel? Thanks

[Shefron]

I've got a tank of 100% argon at work. I know it is used for welding Al, but can I use it for steel? Thanks


You wont be able to use that for welding unless your tig welding. The tank you could have refilled with 75/25 or CO2.

[Shefron]

ok, so i'm finally gonna go with gas on my mig welder ( i know, about time)

what gas mixes are you guys running?? and what prices are you paying for tank rentals and gas??

i've got a hobart 135 and it works bitchen. think i might go with a smaller tank at first cause it'll be easier to work with and move around with the welder

Maybe suggest CO2 for a hotter weld due to your small welder. And get the biggest tank you can afford. Sucks running out of gas but usually places will let you upgrade in size by just paying the difference of the cost of tanks.

[JeepsAreBuilt]

I've got a tank of 100% argon at work. I know it is used for welding Al, but can I use it for steel? Thanks

Yes you can. It is just the fact that co2/argon mix gas has a nicer sable arc and less splatter. I believe that straight argon welds nicer than straight co2. Also, co2 welds hotter and has more penetration if you need that.

I bought my 80cf bottle from the LWS, and I amost cried cuz it cost so much :crybaby2: When you get your bottle.. make sure the fittings dont leak - do a soapy water test - make sure that gas($) dose not leak

[my name is mud]

keep an eye on craigslist. I got a 128cf tank full of argon for $120. If you live around LA, I found a pretty decent deal on craigslist when I was lookin for a tank: http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/559421209.html

[DSW]

You might try your local Hydro shop. The guy I have delt with for years sometimes ends up with used tanks for sale. Some are orphaned / abbandoned tanks that they can't find an owner for, some come in with welding machines that their repair shop gets and the owners decide not to do the work as its to expensive. They also get in trades. I picked up several large steel K bottles for almost nothing that a local medical supply was dumping as the changed to aluminum bottles. I just talked to them last week about a little D sized medical O2 bottle,They'll sell me a used one for $35 that they'll hydro. Heck the hydro alone is work $25. A little scrounging at flea market and yard sales yields some nice finds.

Warning about used bottles. Check and see if they have presure in them. Bottles with gas preasure seldom have moisture inside and interior rust problems. Be warry of bottles from fire sales, heat will ruin a bottle even if it was not directly exposed to flames. Visible damage will also fail a tank. Out of date hydros aren't bad if they will pass, but don't forget to figure in the price for the re hydro, at the shop I use, about $25. Some places will swap any bottle out and not check the dates, but it'll cost you extra if they see it's out of date. In my years working in the scuba industry I've had to tell a lot of customers that their Ebay great find are expensive paper weights. Tanks that were badly rusted inside, failed at hydro or even in 1 case a small split in the tank wall.


As far as costs, the last time I got an O2 bottle swapped it cost me $32 for a 282 cf bottle or $26 to get my little 100 cf bottle. I swaped out my spare 80 cf argon /CO2 mig bottle for 100% argon for my tig yesterday and it cost $22 I think.

[camokiller]

[QUOTE=JeepsAreBuilt;7922463]Yes you can. It is just the fact that co2/argon mix gas has a nicer sable arc and less splatter. I believe that straight argon welds nicer than straight co2. Also, co2 welds hotter and has more penetration if you need that.

X 2

[norcalzuk]

i agree on craigslist...got a bottle for 20$

[oldjeep]

25/75 AR/CO2 Pay around $40 for an exchange on a cylinder that I bought at a garage sale. Costs about $20 every 3 years or so for a recert fee.

Not sure what size it is, but this is the one
http://oldjeep.com/images/WelderCart/WelderCart%20001.jpg

[jasonmt]

Yes you can. It is just the fact that co2/argon mix gas has a nicer sable arc and less splatter. I believe that straight argon welds nicer than straight co2. Also, co2 welds hotter and has more penetration if you need that.

I bought my 80cf bottle from the LWS, and I amost cried cuz it cost so much :crybaby2: When you get your bottle.. make sure the fittings dont leak - do a soapy water test - make sure that gas($) dose not leak


Can you use Argon as a sheilding gas on a smaller machine running Short Circuit transfer: Yes

Should you: Fawk No

Is it a better choice than straight CO2: Again Fawk No