difference between a Aargon and Co2 regulator?

[Psychosaffa]

i plan on going to machine mart tomorrow to purchase some stuff, and on my list is a regulator. on their website they show Aargon regulators and Co2 regulators. what are the differences and which one should i get? also should i get a dual stage or will a single stage regulator do?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Moved to 'shielding gas'.
Which one you get depends on what gas you'll be using, they use different fittings.

 

[KemppiFrog]

Also the bottle pressure is much higher with argon.

 

[Psychosaffa]

Moved to 'shielding gas'.
Which one you get depends on what gas you'll be using, they use different fittings.

thanks boss, thought i was a newbie question.
i plan on using Co2 for now as its what i have available, but plan on moving to Argon later.
so can a Co2 regulator be used for Argon with a adaptor?

 

[madkayaker]

Yes if the regulator is capable of the extra pressure and designed for it

 

[Psychosaffa]

Yes if the regulator is capable of the extra pressure and designed for it

so would it then be better to get a Argon regulator and get an adaptor to use Co2?

 

[madkayaker]

so would it then be better to get a Argon regulator and get an adaptor to use Co2?

The adaptor is the same cost as a new regulator. Its best to get the proper regulator for the job instead of using adapters

 

[Psychosaffa]

thanks guys, really appreciated!
i have a Co2 regulator that cannot be adjusted. its fixed to 1psi. it was used with aquarium hydroponics. do you think i can use this untill i get some propper gas and suitable regulator?

 

[voipio]

A 1psi regulator might struggle to deliver the required gas flow rate at the torch. In any case, a flow meter inline is recommended, in order to check the actual gas flow rate.

Regulators intended for welding differ from laboratory or pub gas regulators in that they contain an internal restriction orifice, so that the flow rate displayed on the outlet gauge (if it's a twin gauge regulator) actually corresponds to a set pressure, which forces the gas at the desired flow rate through the restrictor. This can result in quite a bit of wastage of shielding gas, since the static pressure in the hose to the welder can be as much as 50psi, but during a run it will be much lower. Even inching the welding wire a few times will result in large puffs of gas which is essentially wasted. OK, the first puff will pretty much purge the tubing up to the torch, so this way of doing things does have it's uses.

 

[Daz1968]

If you buy a co2 regulator rated to 300 bar and an adaptor for argon bottle it will work on both, it's what I use and weld quip supply one with this machine
http://www.weldequip.com/gys-smartmig-162.htm

 

[Jim Davey]

For accurate measurement of gas flow at the torch tip (which is the important bit) I recommend a tip flow meter, often referred to in the trade as a 'pea shooter'. It's a little clear Perspex tube with a bobbin and a rubber cone gasket on the base that will seal on virtually any type of mig/tig torch. I find the flow at the tip is often quite different to what the flow gauge or flow meter at the bottle tells me. Beauty of a tip flow meter is its small enough to fit in a pocket and cheap as chips, so no excuse not to have the right gas flow for the job in hand.