What concerns me a bit when I read threads like this is Argon/Co2 seems to be the wonder gas that cures all welding problems! It's NOT! If you are struggling with Co2, you will STILL struggle after paying out for rental on a bottle of Ar/Co2! In fact, I reckon if, after using pure Co2 for ages, I switched back to Argon mix, I would need a good few hours practice before I produced a weld anywhere near as good as I'm doing now. No, I'm not saying anything but Co2 is rubbish and I know a lot of people on here can give me valid reasons why other gasses are better but, Co2 CAN produce good welds and I mean welds by a D.I.Y.er.
I don't doubt the fact that a good machine will help no end but with enough practice, taking time to actually understand what is happening when you weld and not just pull a trigger and expect results, even a budget welder could produce decent results.
I so often see when people post problems, something along the lines of "switch to Argon/Co2 and it will improve"! HOW? I'm not talking welding something structural, I mean somebody who just wants to put a little patch on their car for M.O.T.
I recently welded a sill on a friends car. I used a Cebora pocket turbo. (His machine) I used Co2 sheilding gas. The very next day, before we even had chance to paint the sill, someone crashed into the side of him. Hit so hard, the drivers seat was overlapping the pasenger seat. The sill was just as bent as the rest of the car but at no point did any weld give way. Would it have been any better if I'd used Argon/Co2?
Malcolm, if I'm not mistaken, you said in another thread you are going to compare Co2 to other gasses. Please, make it a fair test. Get through a full bottle? How about you don't use any other gas untill you empty a full cylinder of Co2? (Probably a bit unfair, it lasts ages) At least 5kg of wire? I think you'll be pleasantly supprised.
I honestly hope this little rant doesn't wind anyone up, that's not what I intended.