CO2 for thin bodywork

[gudgeonmczygo]

I've been welding very thin bodywork with .6mm wire and argon mix disposable bottles. I have a Clarke 151EN correctly set up for use of gas, the minimum amps are 30A.

In short it's bloomin difficult and tends to blow right through, just about possible in fact if you move very fast. Tonight I ran out of Argon mix but I had a bottle of CO2 kicking around which I tried out for the first time.

It seems much easier! OK, it spatters more and if anything you have to be sure to get good penetration, but I find I can work slower and have more control of the weld pool.

Does anyone else have any experience of this or did my technique just suddenly 'click'??

 

[shenion]

CO2 will lower the current a bit. WIll aslo use a lower range of wire speed.

I did not find much difference. Just change in the shape of the bead.

 

[gudgeonmczygo]

Well there are 2 other possibilities as to why it's working better. Either I accidentally stumbled upon the perfect settings and previously had not found the correct setup, or it's because I'm being more generous with the gas flow because I don't mind using up all the co2.

It it's the first then that would imply that I'm not using fast enough wire speed with argon mix (seems unlikely). next time I try argon mix I'll turn the gas up to full to see what difference it makes.

 

[gavuk]

i know its not a popular view on this forum but i've welded cars with co2 for years as did the guy who used to do my repairs before i could 20+years ago,it was always done for cost ,no rental /contract,always used pub gas never had problem .Splatter is always ground away before filling and painting on car body repairs so doesn't enter the equation ,i use argoshield at work and it works well ,but someone else is paying

 

[MINGER]

Likewise, ive always used co2, its ever been a problem.

 

[gudgeonmczygo]

No doubt it's cheaper, anyone like to stick their neck out and tell me it's better though??? The sooner I can get back into the garage (wife permitting) and properly investigate this the better. I'm on the verge of signing an AP contract for Argon mix and now feel a lot less inclined.

edit: Of course I mean better in the context of very thin car bodywork. Obviously not better in the broader sense.

 

[gavuk]

I can't say co2 produces better welds ,its cheaper ,it works well enough for car work,i don't believe argoshield is any better than co2(on bodywork) ,i use it up to 6mm at home ,i can't justify argoshield for my mig ,i do however have argon for tig because there is no cheaper alternative ....keep trying disposable until u can choose yourself ....but i always used spot weld method on body panels ,,,,this link is spot on......http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/thin-metal.htm

 

[gudgeonmczygo]

Had a go in the garage today, and although I may be unpopular for saying this, I reckon the CO2 definitely works better on the thin sheets that I'm welding. The steel I'm welding is probably only .6mm or so in places.

Basically, it's cooler and builds filler better. This means that thinner sheet doesn't overheat and drop through. The drawback is that the deeper filler is a slightly bigger job to grind away (and great care must be taken 'cos there's not much room for overdoing it!) and the deep beads can get in the way of panel beating.

I'm going to continue using it for the thin stuff but will go back to argon mix for anything else.

 

[gavuk]

sounds like you have made your decision ,see if u can find a friendly landlord or brewery to obtain co2 ,,,,i pay £12 for a bottle no deposit,will have to get regulator and maybe pipe conversion for your welder ,won't take much welding to beat cost of disposables ,i pay nearly £7 amonth+£28 a refill and nearly £10 handling for argon .....and £12 a bottle for mig co2...although a lot smaller capacity ,depends how much welding u do .....only have 130amp mig at home so i never change from co2 ,at work we weld up to 400amp and use argoshield but as i said company pays