gas usage

[robin osborne]

Hi I have argon / co2 bottle. I think 12 litre. it was 2200 psi when I bought it and now is all ready at 1200 psi. It dropped 400 psi yesterday welts welding supports and top on welding table. I am using between 8 - 10 l min. Can I work out how long it should last. It seems like it's going to be very expensive at this rate.

 

[daleyd]

Are you using a flow meter or just the regulator? I'd advise getting a flow meter if you can, the regulator readings are notoriously unreliable for flow.

Also check for leaks using some soapy water or leak detector spray around all the joints.

 

[robin osborne]

It ha s a dial flow gage is this what you mean. Not using flow meter yet. Will get one when back in England. Will be checking for leeks again.

 

[daleyd]

Yes, the dial gauges are not all that accurate and you may actually be using much more gas than you think. Try turning it down in steps until your welds become unacceptable, then up again slightly.

 

[robin osborne]

Just had quick look and I did around 80 - 90 inch of weld for the 200 psi drop

 

[robin osborne]

Yes, the dial gauges are not all that accurate and you may actually be using much more gas than you think. Try turning it down in steps until your welds become unacceptable, then up again slightly.

I turned it down yesterday and ended up with a brown surround on metal which thought was lack of coverage

 

[Richard.]

Leak test your joints. The LPM sounds fine

 

[Bill Edwards]

It's worth using a proper flow meter, and do check all your joints. One way I go to is to have the system filled with gas then turn off the cylinder, it should hold pressure for a long time.
If it doesn't, wind the regulator so it doesn't let any gas through and with the cylinder valve closed see if the bottle contents gauge falls, it helps to narrow down the location of leaks.

Then, after establishing that you aren't losing it all due to major leaks look into the Volkzone gas offer from BOC, a 20l bottle filled to 3400psi lasts very well and it is a great deal.

 

[daleyd]

Leak test your joints. The LPM sounds fine

Hi Richard I'd agree the lpm sounds ok but I've found the flow meters that are built into the reg don't tend to read very accurate, though that could just be the one I have!

 

[Richard.]

Hi Richard I'd agree the lpm sounds ok but I've found the flow meters that are built into the reg don't tend to read very accurate, though that could just be the one I have!

No your totally right I've used plenty that show duff readings and even had arguments with people on here about. I pay little attention to the gages and flow meters on my regs and test at the torch where I need the ?lpm. For me I use a £7 peashooter. A bottle of gas lasts me well.

 

[daleyd]

No your totally right I've used plenty that show duff readings and even had arguments with people on here about. I pay little attention to the gages and flow meters on my regs and test at the torch where I need the ?lpm. For me I use a £7 peashooter. A bottle of gas lasts me well.

Yes I got an inline flowmeter an it's probably paid for itself in one bottle of gas as I now have an accurate reading and finer control of lpm. I think my next investment will be a peashooter type as well just to double check.

 

[Richard.]

I'm sure the flow meters are accurate but I tend to find they are measuring the flow exiting the reg. I lose upto 1 LPM through the gas line and torch so I actually have to turn my gas flow up a nats to get the desired flow at the torch which doesn't help the op one bit as he is using too much.

 

[daleyd]

I'm sure the flow meters are accurate but I tend to find they are measuring the flow exiting the reg. I lose upto 1 LPM through the gas line and torch so I actually have to turn my gas flow up a nats to get the desired flow at the torch which doesn't help the op one bit as he is using too much.

Ha ha yes, after following our advice he may end up using more!!

On a serious note it sounds a bit like a leak may be the issue.

 

[thepurpleblob]

My pressure gauge shows a big fat zero but the flow meter works. I'm hoping it's just the gauge that's broken

 

[Richard.]

New reg sounds to be the order of the day.

 

[thepurpleblob]

I expect so. I've replaced everything else, so it would make sense

 

[Richard.]

If in doubt chuck it. Regs are cheap and under a considerable amount of pressure. Don't take chances with em for what they cost. They are almost consumable.

 

[johnakay]

I have one similar to one these.are saying that these are unreliable?

 

[Bill Edwards]

I have one similar to one these.are saying that these are unreliable?

The flowmeter gauge often is, these are the accurate type: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Argon-Tig...t=LH_DefaultDomain_3&var=&hash=item259899a1ff

Or you can use these (with the wire feed turned off) to measure what comes out of the torch: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Argon-or-...699?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item25989a47c3

 

[Gareth0123]

I am welding 8 X 40 to 10 X 40 MSF using 0.8mm A18 wire at 200+ amps, an 85/15 argon mix and I have my peashooter flow metre set at 4 to 5 LPM. I only experience brown soot when the wind outside causes the usual workshop draughts to change or the door is opened.

On an aside note yesterday I was welding for 6 hours at an approx rate of 40 minutes to the hour, and the gas solenoid valve on my welder froze up and stopped delivering gas until I thawed it out with a fan heater, but the ambient temperature in my workshop was only 3*C. I've never experienced a gas solenoid valve freezing before, but I have often seen a frost layer on O2, CO2, and Agon mix regulators during the winter in unheated workshops and outdoors on-site.