Argon gas for Tig welding

[BenKeeling]

Hey everyone, I'm just getting into Tig welding and planning to start with a 10l setup. Does anyone know a good supplier around West Yorkshire, especially Wakefield? Also, if you have any tips on where to get a decent regulator so I don't waste gas?

 

[Munkul]

Call around welding/hardware supply shops and ask prices for rent-free bottles and refill (exchange) costs. Adams gas and hobbyweld are the two main ones off my head, these are franchised to various suppliers.

Having started with a 10l cylinder myself, I wouldn't recommend it, they are generally 140bar or lower, whereas 20l cylinders are generally at least 200bar - ie, you get 3x the gas in a larger cylinder, and it doesn't cost twice as much, so much more value for money.

 

[Popcorn]

ELGA Optimator reg. A bit expensive but IT WILL save you loads of money on gas and you'll get your money back several times over just on the gas saving.

 

[RichardM]

My 10L is filled to 200 bar, rent free but Mansfield is probably a bit too far for you.

Look up SGS as well.

https://www.sgsgases.co.uk/find-a-distributor/?drts-search=1&search_location_address%5Btext%5D=Wakefield%2C%20UK&search_location_address%5Bradius%5D=30&search_location_address%5Bterm_id%5D=&search_location_address%5Btaxonomy%5D=&search_location_address%5Bcenter%5D=53.6848162%2C-1.5038596&search_location_address%5Bviewport%5D=53.620743%2C-1.556621336895333%2C53.71554721427876%2C-1.463839917716825&search_location_address%5Bzoom%5D=

 

[Fazerruss]

Here's one near Wakey.
Also Ripon farm services in Darington and SAS Auto parts in Glasshougton are SGS gases dealers

 

[500e]

Learning you will use a lot of gas with start stop.
A 2 stage regulator but will save you gas / money £50 + unless you find a sale
ELGA Optimator reg. could save more but £300 ish

Two Stage, Two Gauge Argon Regulator - TBWS Welding Supplies

Two stage, two gauge welding regulator for argon & argon mix gases used in MIG & TIG welding for precise flow over the entire contents of the gas cylinder.

tbws.co.uk

Watch what you buy 2 gauge is not 2 stage.
If you are serious buy biggest bottle at highest pressure you can afford, you will use a lot of gas to start
SGS give a discount on first bottle to members and you get 100% of paid deposit back if that offer is still going
Phone them to find out terms
Expect you know all this but others reading may not
Nothing comes up on WSD site or I would have linked saame as they give members a discount and sponcer site

 

[BrokenBiker]

Get a flow meter regulator...it will let you accurately set your gas...if you are practicing on mild steel or aluminium you dont need anything bigger than a number 5 cup at 5lpm...stainless benefits from more gas, I started with a number 8 at 8lpm, now I use a 12, but you can 100% use a number 5 on stainless

 

[Jack Ryan]

Learning you will use a lot of gas with start stop.
A 2 stage regulator but will save you gas / money £50 + unless you find a sale
ELGA Optimator reg. could save more but £300 ish

A two stage regulator will reduce the supply pressure effect as the cylinder empties but will increase droop over a single stage regulator. It will not, by itself affect gas surge.

Two Stage, Two Gauge Argon Regulator - TBWS Welding Supplies

Two stage, two gauge welding regulator for argon & argon mix gases used in MIG & TIG welding for precise flow over the entire contents of the gas cylinder.

tbws.co.uk

That is a pressure reducing regulator. What is needed is a regulator-flowmeter.

Jack

 

[BenKeeling]

Cheers for all the info. Just what I needed.

 

[Munkul]

I've always had a single stage reg, just a good quality esab or harris one, and a flowmeter. Set the flowmeter wide open, the regulator down to the flow you want, then close up the flowmeter until it starts to affect the flowrate. It seems to minimize surge for me.
As @BrokenBiker says, set the gas to as little as you need... too much gas is just as bad as too little, especially on stainless. I think I use around 8lpm on a no.7 gas lens for 99% of what I weld, and I used to weld literally thousands of bits of stainless together.
Just to be clear, a flowmeter usually screws onto the back of the regulator, and looks like this

Gas Flow Meter - Weldserv Uk Ltd

Mixed Gas

weldserv.co.uk

Then if you have an on-torch peashooter, it'll make sure the flowrate is absolutely optimised.

Binzel 0-20 lpm Mig Torch Flowmeter

This flow meter is designed to test the flow of gas from the outlet of your MIG or TIG torch up to 20 L/Min. Simply push and hold the flow meter against the shr

www.engweld.co.uk

 

[Popcorn]

The ELGA Optimator 2 I have has no gas surge at all, it's saved me hundreds of pounds over initially paying for itself now.
Honestly I didn't believe all the hype, until I got one.......

 

[Brad93]

The ELGA Optimator 2 I have has no gas surge at all, it's saved me hundreds of pounds over initially paying for itself now.
Honestly I didn't believe all the hype, until I got one.......

I've had mine for well over it's expiry date and it's still doing strong

 

[500e]

Big outlay for home use Brad especially if you are only trying to decided if TIGis for you

 

[Brad93]

Big outlay for home use Brad especially if you are only trying to decided if TIGis for you

The gas savings are worth it

 

[BenKeeling]

ELGA Optimator guess it is worth considering for the future. Any recommend brand/size tig filler rods and tig tungsten for Mild Steal at 1.6/2MM?

 

[BenKeeling]

ELGA Optimator guess it is worth considering for the future. Any recommend brand/size tig filler rods and tig tungsten for Mild Steal at 1.6/2MM?

 

[tom2207]

ELGA Optimator reg. A bit expensive but IT WILL save you loads of money on gas and you'll get your money back several times over just on the gas saving.

or just buy a used , out of test date reg off e bay , a decent two stage one , and fit a flow meter and buy a pea shooter at the same time ,,,, it cut a third off my gas useage

 

[Wedg1e]

I think the motor factors General Traffic are agents for SGS gas (although when I asked my local branch a couple of years back it turned out that I knew more about it than they did) - might be worth trying a local one if you have one?

SGS have a helpful dealer map:

https://www.sgsgases.co.uk/find-a-distributor/