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Converting welder from disposable gas to proper bottles?
nick205 - 25/7/13 at 08:08 PM

Looking to convert my newly acquired Clarke 151TE to accept proper Argoshield gas bottle.

Found this on Weldequip which seems what I'm after, but how does the fitting connect to the little white pipe on the welder - or do you have to dismantle the welder to change it completely...?


Daddylonglegs - 25/7/13 at 08:14 PM

Pretty similar to what I have. Just push the thin tube from the welder into the hose and away you go

nick205 - 25/7/13 at 08:23 PM

That's what had been done on the welder I borrowed recently. It seemed to work OK, but I figured there must be a better solution and the Weldequip photo suggests there's a proper fitting for the job...?

Slimy38 - 25/7/13 at 08:29 PM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
That's what had been done on the welder I borrowed recently. It seemed to work OK, but I figured there must be a better solution and the Weldequip photo suggests there's a proper fitting for the job...?


It is a proper fitting... it's a push fitting designed for the white pipe!!!

There is a small collar on the fitting that actually presses tight on to the white pipe. It works absolutely perfectly.

However, check what bottle you are getting, because this one might work better;

http://www.weldequip.com/argonmix-conversion-kit-se.htm

My Adams gas bottle is a side exit connector, and the one you linked to wouldn't fit.

benchmark51 - 25/7/13 at 08:38 PM

Same connector as mine, just push it in and it will lock. To remove depress the end where the pipe fits and pull out the pipe.
Check the end of the white pipe when connecting as they can wear then leak. Bit of spit on connector when fitting and bottle turned on
would show any leak. Make sure you get the right reg for your bottle.

nick205 - 25/7/13 at 08:39 PM

Aha - now you're talking!

I'll be using a rent free Argon/Co2 bottle from a local supplier, which has a top entry valve so the one I posted should fit.

Now the question is what to make first

Slimy38 - 25/7/13 at 08:46 PM

quote:
Originally posted by benchmark51
Check the end of the white pipe when connecting as they can wear then leak.


Mine had got what looked like spike marks in the end where I had removed it from the disposable gas regulator. I actually used a sharp stanley knife to trim quarter of an inch off the end so I had a clean bit of pipe to make the seal.

benchmark51 - 25/7/13 at 08:59 PM

My bottle is rent free, just pay a returnable deposit and buy gas. It is argon/co2 mix called hobbyweld 5, but the reg is NOT like the one in your
original post.

Slimy38 - 25/7/13 at 09:15 PM

quote:
Originally posted by benchmark51
My bottle is rent free, just pay a returnable deposit and buy gas. It is argon/co2 mix called hobbyweld 5, but the reg is NOT like the one in your
original post.


Is it like this one?




I have seen argon gas (or mixes) being sold in CO2 bottles, I don't know whether that's a bad thing or not.

Daddylonglegs - 25/7/13 at 09:24 PM

SO glad I spent the cash on the conversion, it would have cost me a bl**dy fortune in stupid small bottles

nick205 - 25/7/13 at 09:34 PM

Deffo need the type of valve I posted for the bottle I'm picking up, just couldn't see hoe the connection worked.

benchmark51 - 25/7/13 at 10:29 PM

No that is a co2 reg

look at this link

http://www.hobbyweld.co.uk/?page=onlineshop&productid=69&t=Argon+Regulator+-+1+stage+2+gauge

I am assuming you want argon/co2, which is far better than co2.
Yes this will save you big bucks over disposables.