Mig welding gas

[John 1594]

What are my options?

Just purchased a small (ish) 180A arcos lincoln mig welder, have got it all re-wired to suit my 32A plugs, not just need to sort some gas and a regulator

Wont be needing a huge bottle, was thinking more along the lines of those 3ft high ones, rent free

5% mix or 15% mix, whats better for delicate work and a bit of new steel fabrication, as thats what it will mainly be used for

Best (cheapest) place to get rent free cylinders within PE15 postcode?

 

[ste]

I use the 5% stuff, mainly as thats what came with my mig when I bought it and its been ok for what I do. Mine came with a full large bottle and have just ran out over christmas. I got a SGS gas 30l bottle was £120 for the bottle and £58.75 for the gas from my local motor factors. The one that came with it was full size and lasted me 4 years, so expect this to last a while as I don't do much now. Hobbyweld also do similar but only 9l bottles, SGS do 20l as well and the deposit is £72 for them (I also got an oxygen whilst I was there)

 

[ste]

These look like you're local ones

Motor Parts Direct, Peterborough, Hereward Truck, Peterborough, or FJS Services, March
http://www.sgsgases.co.uk/
http://www.sgsgases.co.uk/

 

[REStracTORATION]

Get a bottle of each then you know you have the right 1
What gas do you use on your big welder?

 

[MF-ANDY]

united welding supplies for a rent free with built in regulator or gas direct for a cheap rental bottle.

 

[joe soapy]

Get the right adapter off the bay and use pub gas

 

[John 1594]

Get a bottle of each then you know you have the right 1
What gas do you use on your big welder?

Big welder is MMA

main reason for buying the mig is ive got to re-build the riddles out of the MF combine and they are paper thin

 

[John 1594]

Get the right adapter off the bay and use pub gas

Pub gas is pure CO2 though?

 

[DrDunc]

More CO2 in the mix gives better penetration at lower voltage, but it causes more spatter.

BOC used to (still do?) sell it as light medium and heavy argoshield, which was 5, 10, and 15% respectively. It was (is) for thin to thick metal.

I'd get the 15% stuff rent free from your nearest sgs place. Most trade motor parts factors will sell you it over the counter (that's what I now use after getting hacked off at boc ridiculous prices).

For thin car panel stuff, just use thin (0.5 or 0.8'm) wire, and if you're bothered about spatter, make sure the metal is scrupulously clean and give it a squirt of anti spatter spray before you melt it.

 

[John 1594]

More CO2 in the mix gives better penetration at lower voltage, but it causes more spatter.

BOC used to (still do?) sell it as light medium and heavy argoshield, which was 5, 10, and 15% respectively. It was (is) for thin to thick metal.

I'd get the 15% stuff rent free from your nearest sgs place. Most trade motor parts factors will sell you it over the counter (that's what I now use after getting hacked off at boc ridiculous prices).

For thin car panel stuff, just use thin (0.5 or 0.8'm) wire, and if you're bothered about spatter, make sure the metal is scrupulously clean and give it a squirt of anti spatter spray before you melt it.

Was about to say im relectant to deal with BOC for the same reasons you stated above

Got to go to local agri engineers later to get mrs 1594 a new muck fork, so will enquire as to what he has available

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

+1 for SGS

 

[DrDunc]

Was about to say im relectant to deal with BOC for the same reasons you stated above

Got to go to local agri engineers later to get mrs 1594 a new muck fork, so will enquire as to what he has available

New muck fork

Can't you teach her to weld the old one?

 

[Pennine Ploughing]

New muck fork

Can't you teach her to weld the old one?

he has no gas

 

[John 1594]

he has no gas

Not yet anyway...

 

[MF-ANDY]

Get the right adapter off the bay and use pub gas

I think pub gas now has a trace of nitrogen to stop this

 

[mushnt grummmble]

Cheapest option will depend on how much you use

 

[Landy Nick]

I think pub gas now has a trace of nitrogen to stop this

That what I thought. Used an old pub gas bottle for years. Then had to use something else once the brewery's realised they were losing so many bottles

 

[John 1594]

Ive got a plain black CO2 bottle here, but sods law its empty!!!

Will probably have a ride to FJS tommorrow, its looking like the simplest option

 

[mushnt grummmble]

Ive got a plain black CO2 bottle here, but sods law its empty!!!

Will probably have a ride to FJS tommorrow, its looking like the simplest option

Just swap it with the required renumeration in your local

 

[John 1594]

Just swap it with the required renumeration in your local

No point if the new one has nitrogen in it

id rather have it right, dont want to be taking these riddles out again because welds have failed