Disposable bottles troubleee....

[Maria R]

Hi

Somehow I've decided to go for disposable Argon/CO2 bottles which is turning to be a total pain.
Bought the respective regulator (without gauge) which doesn't seam to work.

Firstly I had a problem with the hose connection but after changing some parts around I've managed it.

But now, after setting up, no gas comes through. I suppose it might be a valve problem but feeling hopeless here...

Any advice would be brilliant!
Thanks

 

[Swift&Bold]

....or it may be empty, you don't get a lot out of them I'm afraid.

 

[Rob85]

Yep could be empty. They don't last the length of a good fart I'm afraid. Cheapest thing to do for hobby welding is either a rent free refillable co2 bottle.... Or like I done, got my mitts on a pub co2 bottle and have a friendly gas dealer fill it off the record, going for the argon mix is more expensive because you need the rated bottle for it and pub gas bottles won't do

 

[rtbcomp]

Welcome to the forum.

Expect about 10 mins use from disposables and the regulators aren't much good either. It's well worth getting at least a pub-sized bottle of gas.

 

[Country Joe]

It always seems as if they need to be cranked right up to let any gas out at all.
If it's a 60l cylinder and you used say, 10 litres a minute (which is probably a bit high) it'd only last about 6 minutes, anyway.
I doubt if the regulator would ever let out 10L/min, though!

All the Best,
CJ

Ha! Everyone types more quickly than me!

 

[gaz1]

5 mins or less with them compared to a much bigger bottle and the bigger bottle is much cheaper a boc account is worth it in the long run

 

[Rob85]

I suppose almost every new hobby welder hits this problem! Depends where you live and what local gas suppliers are near you. Some of the motor factors would be agents for the likes of hobbyweld for the rent free option or you can approach boc and check out the volkzone offer they do, If you check the forum threads in the gas section you should find some good info

I'm almost expecting to have all this covered by someone else in the time it's took me to type this.... That's how common this kind of problem is haha!

 

[Country Joe]

I'm almost expecting to have all this covered by someone else in the time it's took me to type this.... That's how common this kind of problem is haha!

I was going to mention the volkszone thing, but thought everyone would get there, first!
But, yes - the volkszone arrangement is good.

CJ

 

[Turbo]

I would be cautious about using a pub CO2 bottle. Some of the breweries are getting wise to their bottles getting used for welding & are adding other gases such as nitrogen which makes the gas unsuitable for welding.

You can get suitable CO2 from a good motor factors or for little more money proper argon mix. For the price of a few disposable bottles you will buy yourself a regulator and a large bottle of gas which will last ages.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Take the regulator off and shake the cylinder, if the pin in the outlet rattles then it's empty.

 

[the snooper]

I would be cautious about using a pub CO2 bottle. Some of the breweries are getting wise to their bottles getting used for welding & are adding other gases such as nitrogen which makes the gas unsuitable for welding.

You can get suitable CO2 from a good motor factors or for little more money proper argon mix. For the price of a few disposable bottles you will buy yourself a regulator and a large bottle of gas which will last ages.

that is a total myth or someone got the wrong cylinder, pubs do use Co2 / nitrogen mix for certain beers but such a lager need pure C02 as does the carbonators for the fizzy drinks anything else has an effect on the drinks, also it would be illegal to sell cylinders which state pure Co2 when it isn't

 

[Bladevane]

To possibly answer the original question - I bought a Clarke regulator last year and hooked it up a couple of days ago for the first time. Despite screwing the regulator knob in nothing came out. I found the underside of the knob was fouling the gradation ring so it would not allow the plunger to push onto the bottle sealing device and allow gas to pass. I removed the knob and threw away the plastic ring with the numbers on and now the regulator works fine.