5% or 20% on thinner steels?

[jasongtr]

looking at the info on the training section it seems the best gas to go for is a 20% argon/co2 mix, yet many of the suppliers suggest 20% to used on 6mm and over

whats the general opinion on here

ill be a novice welder with a 215 portamig


thanks in advance


for what its worth this is what I've found http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=664

 

[Hitch]

A 5% mix is what I use on my set at home.
20% mixes are better suited to heavier work.

 

[jasongtr]

nothing ill be doing will be classed as heavy, 4-5mm max - ill need a roll cage welding in but thats something i am going to leave to a professional

 

[lshigham]

5% will be best for your work then

 

[jasongtr]

cheers, just need to find a decent local supplier then - rent free obviously

 

[lshigham]

How much do you use? I only get through 3-4 cylinders a year but it's still way cheaper to pay rental of £4 a month as the refills are 1/3 of the price

 

[jasongtr]

i dont use any, I dont even own a welder, ill be ordering my portamig when they get back after new year

 

[lshigham]

OK then - how much welding are you planning on doing?

 

[jasongtr]

to begin with just my mk2 golf I'm building,

seam weld it all
replace the tunnel with a syncro one
box section between the chassis
plate the floor
various other little jobs on it.

I'm sure there will be other uses, but thats what I'm buying it for - it will be cheaper than paying someone else to do it and i learn a new skill

 

[marlinspike]

Have a look at the Volkzone deal thread for Argoshield. We started off renting the smaller bottles but you will amazed how quickly you get through gas. You need to practise a fair bit before you start on the car, especially if the welding will be visible, and with the amount of welding you are planning the Volkszone deal will be hard to beat. It's annoying to start a job then find you have run out of gas and with the huge Y size bottles you don't have that issue.

 

[jasongtr]

just had a quick look on volkszone, can't see anything...

 

[jasongtr]

scrub that, found it, didn't think id be using pure argon though, from what I've read

edit - i now know argoshield isn't pure argon, just bocs name for the mixed gas

 

[Paul.]

just had a quick look on volkszone, can't see anything...

No need to go on there jason, its all here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/boc-and-volkszone-gas-offer.14605/page-21#post-489927 or just do a forum search for Volkszone

 

[jasongtr]

cheers, with regards to collecting these Y - big bottles, can they be collected in a large car (might be a stupid question) but do they need to be stood up or are they ok to have them lying down ?

 

[Paul.]

A "Y" is not that big, 930mm x 200 mm and weighs 40kg gross, Its fine laying down for transport I do it all the time, just secure it from rolling around

 

[jasongtr]

magic, thanks ill set up an account with boc then i think