Few questions about argon/co2 and regulator

[pdm]

Hi

I recently bought a Clarke 160TM which came with a oxyturbo mini regulator and have a few questions please as the instructions aren't too clear.

1) There isn't a gasket/o-ring on the regulator where the fitting screws into the cylinder is this ok or do I need one ?

2) My regulator has a dial, the fitting for the cylinder, a silver fitting for the connection to the welder and then a black fitting - can I fit a flow meter to it and if so how do I connect it ? Do any come recommended ?

3) I want to use it for car panels etc - is 5% Argon mix the right gas and how long would 8 litres at 137 bar last ? How long would 10 litres at 200 bar and 20 litres at 200 bar last for continuos welding ?

4) Even 137 bar sounds like a lot - is my regulator up to it ?


Sorry if these are a bit basic

Thanks in advance.

 

[rtbcomp]

If you have a disposable bottle you won't need a flowmeter, just turn it up to max. It'll be half empty by the time you've taken a flow reading anyway.

Seriously, try to get yourself a re-fillable bottle, those disposables cost a fortune to use.

PS - I've moved this to the "Shielding Gas" section.

 

[pdm]

Hi

Thanks - wasn't 100% where to ask but it seemed like a noob question so thanks for putting in the right place.

I will go for refillable just wanted to make sure I understand exactly what I need before I splash my cash. Was thinking of going for one of these where there is a bottle deposit rather than rental.

It's a pain really as I went to college to learn welding and we just had a regulator preset on the wall and an on/off switch for the gas !!

Keen to understand how much weld time I get with a given sized refillable and to make sure its regulatd safely as the gas to torch piping on the welder looks a bit weedy to me.

Thanks again.

 

[rtbcomp]

For mixed gasses if you multiply the litres by the bar you get that many litres at atmospheric pressure.

So 1 litre at 300 bar = 300 litres at the nozzle. Typically you'll use 10 litres per min, so out of that example you'll get 30 mins.

CO2 lasts longer because the gas is stored as a liquid.

The pipe after the regulator doesn't have to be very strong, you only use a few PSI.

 

[pdm]

Wow - so 10 litres at 200 bar = 2000 /10 = 200 mins - nearly three and half hours. That sounds like loads given most of the time is in the setup.

I think that will be more than enough.

I've done a bit more reading round on how my regulator works so think I'm bit happier with that now.

So final piece of puzzle is should I be going for 5% argon mix or 25% for normal steel car panels ?

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

 

[Agautosport]

Wow - so 10 litres at 200 bar = 2000 /10 = 200 mins - nearly three and half hours. That sounds like loads given most of the time is in the setup.

I think that will be more than enough.

I've done a bit more reading round on how my regulator works so think I'm bit happier with that now.

So final piece of puzzle is should I be going for 5% argon mix or 25% for normal steel car panels ?

Thanks for your help, much appreciated.

You want the 5% for car panels , 20 or 25 % is for much thicker metal.

 

[pdm]

You want the 5% for car panels , 20 or 25 % is for much thicker metal.

Thanks - all sorted then hopefully.