Disposable bottle regulator

[earthman]

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/bottle-regulator-small-gas-bottle

I bought one of these a few years ago when I first started welding, the guy in the store said that I should just turn it to number 6 no matter what I'm welding.
Being new to welding I took the advice, I did experiment with the settings first only to discover that numbers 1-5 didn't release any gas anyway, well not that I could hear even with the torch up to my ear, when the machine was off etc.

Well the other day it stopped letting the gas out even on number 6, at first I thought that the tube/nozzle must be blocked, used an air line to confirm that it wasn't. I've just bought another regulator, it does work but again only on number 6 it would seem, is this normal then? Why on earth do they put other numbers on them when only the 6'th actually works??

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

To be honest if your learning, ditch the disposables and go get a refillable rent free bottle, much better, will help you out no end, cheaper too in the long run

 

[pedrobedro]

A friend of mine used to use co2 disposables all the time with one of those regulators. He got on fine with it but always turned it full on to weld and off again the instant he finished welding, even between tacks, as it lost gas when turned on.

 

[madkayaker]

I wonder if a proper gas valve and flow gauge used with these wound be any good?

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Hmm I have one of those disposable regs somewhere, I could build a hybrid

 

[madkayaker]

Was just a thought

 

[Jim_gsxr1000]

Yeh, might build one if I have nothing better to do, Iv never found myself ever close to considering using disposables !

 

[earthman]

To be honest if your learning, ditch the disposables and go get a refillable rent free bottle, much better, will help you out no end, cheaper too in the long run

I doubt it would for me, I don't actually do much welding,....one disposable bottle lasts me about a year.

 

[earthman]

A friend of mine used to use co2 disposables all the time with one of those regulators. He got on fine with it but always turned it full on to weld and off again the instant he finished welding, even between tacks, as it lost gas when turned on.

I've not found mine to leak at all, have accidentally left it turned on at number 6 for months, mostly I do remember to turn it off after completing a job.