Co2 regulator icing up

[cookey]

hi as this is my first bottle of co2 and my first few days of mig welding I'm having one issu .
My regulator is icing up it starts to splutter the gas ..
And my flow goes up high to the point it blows off ?? Is this normal with 100% co2 or have I got a problem sum where ??

 

[fixerupper]

I use beer gas, 100% co2.. and I've never had that happen , what type of regulator are you using ,and what flow rate ? photos please ....jeff...

 

[rtbcomp]

It's not all that common but not unusual. It happens more with high gas flows, moist environment and low ambient temperatures.

You can get electric heaters than warm the regulator, but I'd check flow rate first.

 

[optima21]

^^^^ as he says, think of propane cylinders in the middle of summer with ice on them due to high gas usage

 

[mike 109444]

If it's a CO2 fire extinguisher you are using then it may/will have a dip tube going down inside to the liquid CO2 at the bottom thus causing cold gas flow. you will need to use the extinguisher up side down to prevent this.

 

[gordon stephenson]

CO2 regs do sometimes ice up, depending on usage, I only use CO2 very occassionally, but strangely enough. when I was in the local BOC depot they had a box full of slow moving and old stock, I picked up a CO2 heater still in the box for a pound,everything in the box was a pound, obscure torch liners, tips,unions, hose fittings etc, ( I did have to put a plug on it though)

 

[the snooper]

I think mike's is the likely answer, I cant imagine him having it set at such a high rate that it would cause ice to form especially hobby welding

 

[premmington]

The other hidden benefit from using a gas heater is:

Warm gas hits your weld pool and causes less splatter.

Flow rates hobby welding will not cause regulator icing!

More like liquid withdrawal problems I think!

 

[Tigman]

I would say too much flow of gas , crank it down a notch and try again , if your welds start to pinhole then you have it too low , did you get your flow rate tester (pea shooter ) ?

 

[cookey]

I did not get flow rate tester its in the post so will not have it for a few days ..

I had the flow set at 15 lbf/in2. Just less than 1bar ..
This is the reg I'm using http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=50_47&product_id=1045
I did crank the gass up a bit more than what I was using previously using ..
Can I get the dip tube removed ???

 

[cookey]

I did not get flow rate tester its in the post so will not have it for a few days ..

I had the flow set at 15 lbf/in2. Just less than 1bar ..
This is the reg I'm using http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=50_47&product_id=1045
I did crank the gass up a bit more than what I was using previously using ..
Can I get the dip tube removed ???

Sorry did not take any pictures of it iced up ..

 

[the snooper]

I did not get flow rate tester its in the post so will not have it for a few days ..

I had the flow set at 15 lbf/in2. Just less than 1bar ..
This is the reg I'm using http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/product&path=50_47&product_id=1045
I did crank the gass up a bit more than what I was using previously using ..
Can I get the dip tube removed ???

I don't see why not when its empty until then turn upside down as suggested

 

[outofthefire]

My argon/co2 regulator sometimes condenses up at work most times it's because i've got a gas leak somewhere usually where a sparks melted a hole in the gas tube but it has been a leak in the regulator. Might be worth just checking for leaks, just paint some soapy water over your regulator and gas pipe.

 

[cookey]

No leaks checked regulator I think it migh get becaus it was a damp night last night and I was using 2 much gass

 

[CKJDJK]

I use old fire extinguishers and find I need to invert the cylinder as said above. I am also using a hobby type regulator rather than an industrial one. I still get a bit of frosting if I weld to long. Frequent stopping is required. When I can scrounge one, I intend to try a larger reg to see if it makes any difference. I have resorted to using a heater near the reg to reduce the frosting.

 

[Gareth J]

I also use fire extinguishers and have had the regulator ice up. It's only happened a couple times though so I never bother to invert them. Only happened when doing a lot of long welds. Could the gas flow be too high?

I was hoping to go to the volkszone deal but 1/2 dozen extinguishers came my way at less than a tenner a go so I'm on the CO2 for a bit longer!

 

[cookey]

don a bit this eve buddy of mine landed with his wheel barrow he wanted mended so this is my first official welds first weld was a bit iffy as i was trying to get settings right but next 3 wer good i think what do ye folk make of them ???? are they ok or not ..
at the end of the last weld the regulator was a bit frosty but nothing like last night as i backed gas off a bit

weld number 2

weld number 3

number 1

number 4

 

[pedrobedro]

CO2 cylinders with a dip tube usually have a white stripe painted down the side. A friend of mine used them to freeze pipework for plumbing.

 

[premmington]

CO2 cylinders with a dip tube usually have a white stripe painted down the side. A friend of mine used them to freeze pipework for plumbing.

Correct... Liquid withdrawal bottles do have a white stripe on the side!