John_d1974
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Stupid question I'm sure but do you really need a flow meter on your regulatlor? Surely the dial on the regulator is accurate enough?
A flow meter allows you easier adjustment in my opinion but I don't even go by the flow on them and use a peashooter on the torch to get the flow right.Stupid question I'm sure but do you really need a flow meter on your regulatlor? Surely the dial on the regulator is accurate enough?
The flow gauges on the regulator can be a bit out, the advantages of a pea shooter are they are more accurate plus they show you what is coming out of the end of the torch, if there is a big difference between the regulator and pea shooter readings this can be a good indication of blockages or leaks in the systemSomeone will have to explain how this peashooter on the torch meadures gas flow more accurately (better?) than a conventional rotameter or tapered flow gauge?
You can have a blockage without a leak and vice versa quite easily, and as for the accuracy of what’s coming out of the torch, people can only tell you the facts, what you do with that information is totally up to youBlockages and leaks. You can't have one without the other surely. Still not convinced you can be sure its more accurate, but I expect if the two read the same, ergo, everything is good. Plus you don't have to look around behind you to check.
Very few of the gauges on regulators are spot on, some are better than others, restrictions can be caused by fittings, connections, solenoid valves, hoses in the torch etc, I am in no doubt you have superior knowledge and experience but I spend a good amount of time going around large fabricators measuring and monitoring actual flow rates using a calibrated digital flow meter at the gas shroud and what it says is coming out of the torch is very rarely what is indicated on the regulator for whatever reason, I guess I must just be unluckyYes you can have a blockage without a leak, in which case the peashooter will read exactly the same as the bottle flowmeter.
And where do these facts come from - are there specs for the accuracy of these things?
You might think I'm being picky, but just saying something doesn't make it right, 20 odd years as an instrument technician makes me allways consider these questions. So far no answers.