Mig welding question

[burgerman]

 Hi all, I have a trusty Snapon 130 mig welder, which is fine for my useage, I have upgraded to a 20 kilo argon mix bottle and purchased a proper set of regulaters and flow meter, Question is though; What flow rate do i use ?? i have read about 15 litres/minute, which sounds a awfull lot in reality ?? 

[dxmedia]

About 7 inside, you'll have to crank it up if outside to stop the shroud from blowing away.

[topless matt]

15 is about right if you have a euro torch, if not then the gas flow will be restricted anyway so have it on 10l/min

As said above, the wind can have an effect so if the gas is set at 15 it should provide a decent shroud when welding outside to take into account any slight breeze

[fatbaz]

Hi All

I run a Clarke 160 Turbo on CO2, the regulator set at a bar and a bit or 20psi, works a treat, takem it to about 30 psi when outside.  Been using the same pressures on previous MIGs running Arogosheild for the past 25 years.

Never come across the litres/minute method before on MIG welding (on my bottle that would be 10 litre capacity X 50bar pressure, that gives me 500 litres at atmospheric pressure, divided by 15ltres/minute equals 33 minutes welding !!!!  NO, can't be I must have got something wrong here, my bottle at 20 psi lasts for weeks not hours.

Somebody enlighten me please  :?

[topless matt]

Never come across the litres/minute method before on MIG welding (on my bottle that would be 10 litre capacity X 50bar pressure, that gives me 500 litres at atmospheric pressure, divided by 15ltres/minute equals 33 minutes welding !!!!  NO, can't be I must have got something wrong here, my bottle at 20 psi lasts for weeks not hours.

Somebody enlighten me please 

You mush have a very old regulator on the mig then as every regulator i have ever seen has the flow guage as litres per minuite.

Also, the bottle contains the argoshield as a liquid which occupies a lot less space then when it is stored as a gas.
I forget how much my  bottle holds in terms of actual volume of gas but it is a huge amount, think it is two sizes from the larges bottle that boc do, even though i get through that in about 2 weeks  :roll:

[boss]

i have a new regulator, it has PSI on it, it does also have LT/min but ive always used psi. and its normally at 20psi. you should change it slightly when using higher amps though.

[brixworth-alan]

33 minutes sounds like a heck of a lot of welding if you're only doing a  few seconds at a time.

[dxmedia]

Not talking those cheap little disosable canisters from hellfrauds are you?  A pub co2 bottle is normally only £15

[topless matt]

used pub co2 but cant stand the stuff.
I now pay BOC for argoshield, SO much better.
Easier weld, less spatter and ive found it requires less amperage to get the desired penetration  ;)

[dxmedia]

used pub co2 but cant stand the stuff.
I now pay BOC for argoshield, SO much better.
Easier weld, less spatter and ive found it requires less amperage to get the desired penetration  ;)

Get a mag welder then - designed to run on co2 :P

[Range Rover Blues]

What is the difference, I can't find out.

[topless matt]

There is no difference, most people only say mig because it is the shortened version of what it is supposed to be which is MIG MAG welding.

[dxmedia]

Metal Active gas (Mag) and Metal Inert gas (Mig)

The active gas in the addition of oxygen (CO2) whilst the inert is Argon. Argo shield IIRC has a mix of about 10 - 20% co2.

The mig mag welder I've got recommends running a +ve earth when using CO2 and a -ve earth when using argon based. I can't remember the chemistry but I bet it's to do with the way the electrons go when everything is oxydising.

TBH other than a smoother finish (less diming) I've never seen any real difference between using £15 co2 and ££££ argo shield.  I'm not a professional welder though so take all of the above with a pinch of salt.

[Saffy]

I've never seen any real difference between using £15 co2 and ££££ argo shield. 

ARGON and argon mix is a third cheaper in the Halifords here compared to C02.

[hairyasswelder]

I've never seen any real difference between using £15 co2 and ££££ argo shield. 

ARGON and argon mix is a third cheaper in the Halifords here compared to C02.

Read the label  ;) you only get half the gas  :P

Only use argon5 at work or pure 99.9% argon.  Got a CO2 bottle at home for the odd bits and argon mix runs alot cleaner.

[Saffy]

I've never seen any real difference between using £15 co2 and ££££ argo shield.

ARGON and argon mix is a third cheaper in the Halifords here compared to C02.

Read the label  ;) you only get half the gas  :P

oh I never thought to look, I just noticed in passing the price difference when I went to pick up some anti-splatter spray. My MIG's a total POS hate hate hate NEVER BUY SIP mig lads. It's so bad that I can do a nicer weld on sheet with ARC and 1.5mm sticks.

[topless matt]

second that, only used one once, i have a butters mig and also a migatronic, both are excellent but i prefer the migatronic for the big stuff like tractor trailer drawbars  8-[

[hairyasswelder]

second that, only used one once, i have a butters mig and also a migatronic, both are excellent but i prefer the migatronic for the big stuff like tractor trailer drawbars  8-[

Both good brands  ;) I use Murex, Migatronic and Esab migs @ work and have a SIP and Cebora @ home. The SIP runs sweet as a nut (195 Autoplus) and was only £20 with an MB25 Binzel euro torch (didnt care if the welder worked @ that price  :P )

[topless matt]

yeah, to get an euro torch with a welder at that price id just be happy for the torch  :dance:

[Saffy]

The SIP runs sweet as a nut (195 Autoplus) and was only £20 with an MB25 Binzel euro torch (didnt care if the welder worked @ that price  :P )

has it been converted for eurotorch or was that model like that from kick off? If converted they maybe have also modified the voltage regulation on the feed etc to make it run sweet, have seen the mod mentioned on welding forum.