If you go to Nuneaton Welding Supplies (seeing as you're relitively local) they'll have the required connectors. Just make sure you're careful which bottle you take with you
Hi all,
Firstly, want to give a big thanks to MikeR, who has just given me a couple of gas bottles. Thanks again Mike!! I've got home and checked the
regulator that came with the welder, (Clarke 160T) and I've got a male fitting, whereas the bottle (Pub type) has a different fitting. So do I
just need a different regulator? If so can you point me in the right direction? And also, are you able to fill pub CO2 bottles with Argon? I
don't see why not, as thats what I'm planning.
Cheers
Matt
You can get CO2 regulators fairly cheaply off Fleabay, but make sure they fit 'pub' type bottles.
I doubt if any gas supplier ( BOC Air Products etc) will fill a CO2 bottle with Argon, because as you say, the connections are totally different. Like
Oxy and Acetalene are different for obvious reasons, it's a safety thing.
[Edited on 26/11/06 by Confused but excited.]
will i be able to use a CO2 regulator with argon, or is there a difference in the way they are made? Seen one in machine mart page 94, IR2C looks like it would fit. But just unsure as to whether its ok with argon. I should be good to go then i think . .
The tube where the nut is, can be unscrewed and you can then replace this nut with one from the horn from a co2 fire extingisher
Don't forget that CO2 is stored as a liquid typically at lower pressure than argon. Some CO2 only regs won't take the pressure.
You'd be lucky to find someone to fill the CO2 bottle with Argon, but if you are welding mild steel only then give CO2 a shot - it's not soo
bad. A friendly pub might be able to organise refills.
quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustoms
will i be able to use a CO2 regulator with argon, or is there a difference in the way they are made? Seen one in machine mart page 94, IR2C looks like it would fit. But just unsure as to whether its ok with argon. I should be good to go then i think . .
My regulator is an argon one and happily does CO2.
If you go to Nuneaton Welding Supplies (seeing as you're relitively local) they'll have the required connectors. Just make sure you're
careful which bottle you take with you
"Some CO2 only regs won't take the pressure."
NO CO2 regs will take the pressure!! The reg will come off with the force of a shell from a 40mm cannon - DONT GO THERE
quote:
NO CO2 regs will take the pressure!! The reg will come off with the force of a shell from a 40mm cannon - DONT GO THERE
so to summarise, I need to either adapt the CO2 cylinder, via adaptor, to fit an argon regulator if I want to use argon. Else I've gotta use CO2,
or else face possible death. I'll see what adaptors I can get to change the bottle thread to fit an argon reg. Just to edit, I want to use
Argoshield or Argon / CO2 mix, as I understand this gives a neater and better weld. Still guess I need the argon reg. but If I can get a thread
adaptor, as I said above, should be ok yeah?
[Edited on 26/11/06 by MattCraneCustoms]
Not exactly - there is also the question of pressure rating for the CO2 bottle. I have no idea whether they are designed to the same spec as Argon
bottles, but the Co2 ones tend to be filled to 60bar and argon ones to 230 bar. The rated pressure might be stamped somewhere on the bottle.
Adapters for an argon reg are available from Machine Mart.
You cant use C02 bottles for any other gas safely , maximum pressure is about 1000psi at room temp , argon and argon mixes are nearer 3000psi.
I have always used pure C02 as in pub bottles and fire extinguishers and get acceptable welds with it. By the time the chassis is painted etc no one
will be able to tell any difference in the welds.Just adapt your reg to fit and get the bottle filled with CO2.
Paul.
cheers for that paul. just went and checked one of the bottles, it has 3360 PSI stamped into it, but i'll just have to go with CO2. my main concern was that the weld was bad compared to argoshield
That will probably be the test pressure not the safe working presure.
The advantage of CO2 is also that it is said to give a hotter weld and more penetration, it isnt really an issue on thin tube but may be better for
welding heavier sections.
I have used aroshield at work but wouldnt waste money renting bottles for home use, it may give a neater weld but with practice you wont have any
problems with CO2.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustoms
cheers for that paul. just went and checked one of the bottles, it has 3360 PSI stamped into it, but i'll just have to go with CO2. my main concern was that the weld was bad compared to argoshield
Most argon bottles are now filled to 300bar, about 4500psi with pressurised gas whereas co2 is stored as a liquid at a much lower pressure and filled by weight of liquid. You can buy an adaptor to use argon reg on co2 but not the other way round.
quote:
Originally posted by paulf
That will probably be the test pressure not the safe working presure.
The advantage of CO2 is also that it is said to give a hotter weld and more penetration, it isnt really an issue on thin tube but may be better for welding heavier sections.
I have used aroshield at work but wouldnt waste money renting bottles for home use, it may give a neater weld but with practice you wont have any problems with CO2.
Paul.
quote:
Originally posted by MattCraneCustoms
cheers for that paul. just went and checked one of the bottles, it has 3360 PSI stamped into it, but i'll just have to go with CO2. my main concern was that the weld was bad compared to argoshield
The main problem with pure CO2 (unless you are at the upper or lower limits of the welder where cold or hot would actually matter) is that the arc
stability is poor.
It seems to jump out every now and again as if the metal was a little dirty. Keep on going and the weld works out OK, but it's a little
disconcerting. You get a bit more spatter too.
Friendly pub supplied CO2 is a lot cheaper than the Argon/CO2 mixes so there's a compromise between price and nice to use.
Sheesh I'm bothering you guys a lot - should probably get my coat.
[Edited on 27/11/06 by clementine]
"It only costs about £17 to refill a CO2 'pub' type cylinder, even if your friendly neighbourhood landlord charges you full whack for a
refill. "
My local pub landlord rents me some of his pure C02 pub gas at £5 a go for the bigger cylinders....
Think i should keep quite then if the recharge rate if nearly £20 a go....
[Edited on 28/11/06 by jono_misfit]