What flow rates are people using?

[RIP]

My gas usage seems high, I go for 10 l/m which is what I read is needed. My gas supplier says that's way too high and you need the gas to be barely audible. I tried that but got problems. What flows are people using? I'm doing bodywork at the moment.

 

[arther dailey]

I use 10 outside on a still day,up to 12/15 if breazy but use wind breaks, dont weld indoors but would suggest try 8 as a starter, you will soon know if low gas by the mess thats laying in front of you instead of smooth weld.

 

[optima21]

if I'm inside my garage I now use 6 lpm and if outside upto 10 lpm for bodywork......I used to just use 10 lpm with CO2, but with argoshield light, it just goes too quickly to use 10 lpm. as I have a clarke mig welder, they have the gas valve in the torch handle so I have a habit of opening the gas valve for about half a second to a second before welding

 

[cumbriasteve]

I run at 6 to 8 lpm in the workshop, my welding is 99% on the flat with easy access and that means perfect torch angle so the gas is going where it is supposed to, any variables on that and you may need to up it a little.

 

[RIP]

Got my units wrong, I've been running 10 l/m, edited my post. Will try to go down a bit then.

 

[cumbriasteve]

The easiest way is to just keeping dropping it as low as you can until you notice the weld if affected, then open it up until all is well again, you have then got it at it's most economical without causing problems.....until something changes

 

[KMP]

Hi, the only thing that strikes me is what are you using to set the flow rate? I tried using the two gauge regulator but found the flow meter to be very inaccurate, particularly at lower flow rates. Set with a cheap "pea shooter type" I find 8l/m is fine for indoors, having read the other answers I think I will try a little lower as well. Every little............ etc

Regards

Keith

 

[gt6s]

Turn it down so you can just hear it. Dirty porous weld turn it up a bit.

Laurence

 

[dunde]

My gas usage seems high, I go for 10 l/m which is what I read is needed. My gas supplier says that's way too high and you need the gas to be barely audible. I tried that but got problems. What flows are people using? I'm doing bodywork at the moment.

hi i use 3 to 4 LTS per min works fine on 2mm to 6 mm mild steel.

 

[dunde]

hi i use 3 or 4 LTS per min on 2 mm up to 6mm on mild steel ,dunde.
(in my garage )

 

[arther dailey]

Really??

 

[Brad93]

Depends on the size of your shroud

 

[Kent]

Some of these flow rates seem a tad low to me. I should class 10 as the normal but as has been touched on if your running a narrow shroud, small wires, lower settings then you might get a water with a lot less in still air

 

[arther dailey]

Back to old down to size ..joking aside I can understand smaller shroud makes a big differance but lower than 5 is still ,really?

 

[Jlg]

I use 8-15 Lm depending on the wind

 

[ChrisW8]

on the peashooter gauge, is the reading taken from the top of the 'pea' or the bottom ??

 

[Davek0974]

The top - its usually flat on top and either stepped or tapered on the bottom.

 

[ChrisW8]

thats ok then, ive been reading from the top

 

[Wallace]

Flow meters with bobbins are read from the top and the ball type from the centre of the ball.