I learnt to weld and constructed 99% of my chassis using CO2 (pub gas).

I just tried a disposable Argon/CO2 mix bottle and WOW.

10x easier to weld with and 10x better welds.

For anyone starting out who thinks they can save a few quid using CO2 instead of Argon/CO2 mix JUST DON'T BOTHER!

I'll try and get some photos up later.

[Edited on 18/11/05 by andyharding]

Hi Andy,

What does a bottle of the argon/co2 mix cost?

the gas is cheap 36 quid? its the rental on the bottle that hurts

I've also read (on here?) that pub gas C02 is much less pure than proper welding grade CO2 and doesn't perform nearly as well.

at machine mart the price of co2, argon, or the argon mix are all comparable. Around £7 for 100 litres i think.

................also CO2 can give better results under some (ok, unusual!) circumstances!

Not really directly relevant on here, but I do quite a bit of welding work on rusty Opel mantas, as well as "clean steel" fabrication.

Unoubtedly argoshield etc are better on heavier sections and the like, but on VERY thin steel (0.8mm and less) I find CO2 takes the heat away better, allowing me to weld these sections where argoshield always left me burning through.

This is the only advantage of CO2, it removes heat faster from the weld area.