_judgelj_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 03:53 PM
G'day,
I need to get some more mig gas and i am unable to refill the bottle that we own. Nowadays you need an account, and i was just wondering if i could use co2, as this can be refilled at party shops if i am not mistaken? I have read a few mixed reports, and i thought i would ask for some opinions. Apparently the CO2 is a more aggresive arc and not suitable for stuff under 1mm.
What do you think?
Forum Fan
Posted 03 March 2014 - 04:13 PM
At party shops ?Don't they use helium ?Imagine popping a heap of balloons at a kids party and filling the room with co2 ?Don't be a tight ass .Get some argon shield and do it properly .Much less spatter ,better finish and better penetration .
_toranatime_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 04:35 PM
you can use co2 but as you have said you get much different arc characteristics and more spatter. it is used more on structural steel work to get the weld running a bit hotter I believe. I have never used co2 myself but I would just get some argoshield.
cheers
Forum Fixture
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Posted 03 March 2014 - 05:50 PM
I use argoshield lite, $15 bucks a month from BOC but used a fair bit
Heckler Extraordinaire
Posted 03 March 2014 - 06:15 PM
At party shops ?Don't they use helium ?Imagine popping a heap of balloons at a kids party and filling the room with co2 ?Don't be a tight ass .Get some argon shield and do it properly .Much less spatter ,better finish and better penetration .
Nuff said. 
Green Eggs and Spam
Posted 03 March 2014 - 07:10 PM
Ive used beergas at a pinch... it was a bit rugged though.
_judgelj_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 07:13 PM
Posted 03 March 2014 - 07:13 PM
_judgelj_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 07:40 PM
I don't know what you guys are talking about? Straight CO2 works fine, my welder produces really nice welds with 0.6mm on fine stuff and 1.0mm for anything heavy with no issues at all.
Owner bottle, fill it at the fire extinguisher place for $30 and it lasts ages.
Thats what i wanted to hear, someone who has used it.
I think it might be the go. Need any adapters with the reg?
Heckler Extraordinaire
Posted 03 March 2014 - 08:24 PM
Thats what i wanted to hear, someone who has used it.
I think it might be the go. Need any adapters with the reg?
Just waiting for someone to agree doesn't make it right, but hey, go for it!
Google the wire manufacrturers specs on the wire first.
Forum Fan
Posted 03 March 2014 - 08:42 PM
Mine was pub CO2 .Did the job but as I said .Let us know how you go .
Posted 03 March 2014 - 09:06 PM
CO2 reg and bottle will match up without any adapters unless you've got something strange.Need any adapters with the reg?
_judgelj_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 09:22 PM
flux core is a joke, barely works.
At party shops ?Don't they use helium ?Imagine popping a heap of balloons at a kids party and filling the room with co2 ?Don't be a tight ass .Get some argon shield and do it properly .Much less spatter ,better finish and better penetration .
I heard that the CO2 has better penetration, just obviously more spatter and generally uglier welds.
Just waiting for someone to agree doesn't make it right, but hey, go for it!
Google the wire manufacrturers specs on the wire first.
Theres nothing to agree on it. I just wanted to hear from people who have used it as i was already inclined to go that way. But hey im open to donations you are more than welcome to pay my rental.
_Bomber Watson_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 09:28 PM
Yeah my local home brew shop fills CO2, owner bottle type thing.
Im feeling you on the rental Judge, i had four bottles through boc untill recently, now i have three as i let the argosheild slip, but pure argo (which i have now to run the tig and the mig on alloy) doesnt do the job on mild steel so i gotta keep borrowing bottles of argosheild from work....
As soon as the acet bottle is empty im going to lpg/oxy....Then i might get another argosheild.....
frOcking rude Cunning Stunts frOcking $70 a month frOcking frOck that shit.
Never used beer gas to weld, if i was you i would listen to Statler though.
Cheers.
And on that note, i've heard, but not investigated, that my local tool shop does throw away bottles of various gasses, reasonably priced....No rental, empty it, bin it, buy a new one, need to go have a glance at them methinks.
See if something like that exists aroudn you.
Cheers.
_judgelj_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 09:36 PM
LPG/oxy ive never heard of that. My oxy hose cracked and i need to re crimp the connection.
as for the c02, this is just a discussion. i see that some people are pretty passionate about their argo, but its not a big deal really, its only gas. I honestly can't afford the rental so im just trying to get some ideas.
Edited by judgelj, 03 March 2014 - 09:39 PM.
_Bomber Watson_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 09:38 PM
Well in a general discussion that will happen, ones opinion will be favored.
Statler is probably one of the most knowledgeable welders i've come across so im going to favor him?
Wot179 is a very talented sheet metalist....And re read his comment....
Cheers.
Green Eggs and Spam
Posted 03 March 2014 - 10:18 PM
Beergas used a different reg too...had to do a bit of creative gasfitting to make it work.
But it got a backyard job finished on a Sunday arvo.
I wouldn't use straight Co2 by choice.
If it was a good choice every fab and panel shop would use it to save money.
Ive worked in a lot of shops, and Ive never seen it used on a shop floor.
Lotsa Posts!
Posted 03 March 2014 - 10:39 PM
Bomber. I tried those throw away gas bottles a while back.
Were close to $20 each from memory.
Lucky to get 15 minutes welding with them.
_judgelj_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 10:47 PM
Forum R&D Officer
Posted 03 March 2014 - 11:18 PM
Argoshield is still 75% CO2 so I can't see there would be a lot of difference
The various mixes of Argoshield are actually between 78 and 95% Argon with the stuff for light gauge steel in the 90%+ Argon range. I changed from my normal Argoshield light to Argoshield 54 last time I filled up and it is the nicest I have used on panel steel.
_Bomber Watson_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 11:22 PM
Bomber. I tried those throw away gas bottles a while back.
Were close to $20 each from memory.
Lucky to get 15 minutes welding with them.
Thanks for the feedback mate.
By 15 minutes, do you mean 15 minutes of continuous weld?
I ask because i'd be flat out doing that in six months generally, its just "zip this" and "zap that" and "glue this" every now and then when i need it..... in which case $20 once off for six months would be way cheaper than $13 a month.
Cheers.
Forum Fan
Posted 03 March 2014 - 11:25 PM
Bomber, have you thought about using a LPG hand lance for heating (Under $200 and no oxy needed )and a plasma cutter for the cutting work.some good units out there .Cut 40mm for under a grand .9kg bottle LPG = SFA .No more bottle rental except MIG /TIG etc.
I know what you mean about using very little gas .Sometimes you use less than what it would take to purge the lines .
Edited by Bernie, 03 March 2014 - 11:28 PM.
_Bomber Watson_
Posted 03 March 2014 - 11:31 PM
I like to braze and silver solder as well, tmk you need atleast lpg and oxy for that to be successfull.
Cheers.
_toranatime_
Posted 04 March 2014 - 02:57 AM
hey mate have a little look at this, probably worth a watch.
http://www.weldingti...-gases-mig.html
cheers
Posted 04 March 2014 - 06:28 AM
When I upgraded my welder I did go for an inverter unit (mainly because it meant I could weld heavier stuff without popping fuses), so maybe that's the case for me - I really haven't had any issues with straight CO2 at all. There's definitely little to no spatter depending on what I'm doing with it.Straight co2 for mig welding has a reputation for producing lots of spatter but if the voltage and wire speed are balanced to find the sweet spot, c02 gas can actually run very smoothly with little or no spatter. Especially when using inverter power sources that have an inductance setting favorable to Co2 shielding gas.
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