Gas flow gauge

[Piero]

Hi Guys

Does anyone know were I can buy the round gas flow gauge, as seen on a gas regulator?????

I have been given a NEW gas-arc Argon regulator, only the flow gauge reads Bar.

NO, its not the bottle content gauge, it has two gauges, one is the bottle content gauge and the other (which I speak off) also reads in Bar.

I DONT want to add on a extra flow meter,

But cant seem to find a good quality round flow gauge that reads LPM

any help please

 

[shenion]

You cant.

There is more to a gas flow gauge on a regulator. It is really a pressure gauge. In the regulator output, after the gauge is a calibrated orifice.

On the Lincoln regulator the gauge had marked on it "Calibrated for 0.029" orifice"

Why not get a flowmeter? It will be more accurate and not expensive. Really the only other option is to get a new reg with a flow gauge.

 

[FranV8]

Hopefully this isn't going to be one of those threads where you get frustrated when given the answer you don't want.

I have a twin gauge regulator that came with my Rtech. The left hand gauge is, as you say, the cylinder content gauge. The right hand one is calibrated in lpm / flow, and is what you think you want

BUT

It is reality a pressure gauge with a scale approximating flow, and it's nowhere near the truth. (I have a flowmeter after it, nice one sold to me sh by a chap on here)

What are your reasons for not wanting a flowmeter?

 

[matt1978]

But another thing to remember is that a flow meter is only accurate if used on a fixed non adjustable regulator. In other words, the flow rates marked on the tube are based on the assumption that the gas is coming out at a given pressure ( can't remember the actual pressure, but it's whatever the non- adjustable ones are pre- set at)

 

[Piero]

As said, the gas-arc reg came with two, bar reading gauges.
I wanted to keep things simple, so swapping out one bar gauge for a lpm flow gauge was going to keep things simple.
Added to that, I bought a new old stock boc regulator of flee bay.
The scumbag who sold it as new undamaged, sent it out with a shagged lpm gauge.

If I found out were to buy some, I could hopefully fix two birds with one stone

 

[FranV8]

A quick search suggests that maybe 50 Psi is the calibration pressure. About 3.3 bar.

Pierro, all you're getting with a dial flow outlet gauge is a pressure gauge with a different scale. If you want another way round this, perhaps get a peashooter type flow gauge you.put on the end of the torch, then you can see what outlet pressure corresponds to what flow, then either remember this or pen it on the gauge face. This relationship would change though with different torches/ hose lengths.

Good flow calibration will save you a fortune in gas.

You'll almost certainly want a flowmeter if you're backpurging for stainless welding.

Meant to add:

http://www.esabna.com/literature/Gas%20Apparatus/Valves-Flowmeters/Flowmeters_L-32_F-11-223-P.pdf

 

[Rick]

I don't think it really matters. Learn what works on your setup remember the number and adjust up and down from there.

 

[backpurge]

It really isn't a good idea to replace/change the gauges, plus if the NOS reg you bought off ebay is over 5 years old it needs binning

 

[langy]

A quick search suggests that maybe 50 Psi is the calibration pressure. About 3.3 bar.

Pierro, all you're getting with a dial flow outlet gauge is a pressure gauge with a different scale. If you want another way round this, perhaps get a peashooter type flow gauge you.put on the end of the torch, then you can see what outlet pressure corresponds to what flow, then either remember this or pen it on the gauge face. This relationship would change though with different torches/ hose lengths.

Good flow calibration will save you a fortune in gas.

You'll almost certainly want a flowmeter if you're backpurging for stainless welding.

Meant to add:

http://www.esabna.com/literature/Gas%20Apparatus/Valves-Flowmeters/Flowmeters_L-32_F-11-223-P.pdf

X 2 but its falling on deaf ears.

 

[Davek0974]

I fitted a flow gauge and found my reg gauge was way off the mark, I'm getting good results as low as 6 lpm where it was near 20 before. Yes it needs to be set at a fixed pressure which was printed on the side of the flow gauge.

A pea shooter would have been cheaper and just as good but I didn't know about them until too late.

 

[Piero]

Thanks FranV8,
when I did a search on google for converting bar to lpm, it came back as not able to be done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The thing is, the supllier of my welder is having a lot of trouble getting my set up to work.
its all new, and I paid a lot of money for it.
I live in London, and the supplier is miles away.
I wanted a gas saver in my set up, so when I ordered my welder, thats what I asked for and paid for.

we cant seem to get the gas saver to work.
my poor supllier has REALLY tried for me, the poor guy has sent out two regulators!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and two gas savers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
the last one being the Gas-arc (made) regulator, seeing as the gas saver is made by Gas-arc, we thought it best to use the reg from them as well.

Dont know why he sent me one that reads in bar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! as its no good to me.
I was trying to help out by just changing over the gauge its self.
seeing as its all new, its should all work, the regulator that reads in bar will simpley be sent back,
was trying to avoid that, and seeing as my old boc mig regulator needed a new gauge, I thought, kill two birds with one stone.

Yes I would like a torch gas flow metter. I think they make a lot of sence.
as you say, length of run, flow etc changes by the time it reaches the gun.
Having just the one flow metter, I can check all my welders periodicly.

I well, sorry supplier, the Gas arc regulator that reads in bar will be on its way back.