Gas wastage

[smurf]

Take a look at the 'Volkzone' offer from BOC on Argoshield light. With a 20l cylinder filled to a very decent 230 bar for only £25 plus VAT to refill it I don't think you'll need to worry much about how much gas you're using - the cost of a bit of wastage isn't going to be measurable!

Hi Bill Edwards,
Thanks for your post and the details regarding Volkzone. I'm not 100% sure if Volkzone operate here in Ireland, but must check and see whats available here. There are suppliers such as wholesaleweldingsupplies and hobbyweld who offer rent free as well. Not sure if I should go for 9ltr at 137bar or the larger 20ltr at 230bar.
Here's their link.

http://www.wholesaleweldingsupplies.ie/index.php?route=product/category&path=406_516

If its a case that the larger bottle will make it easier for a beginner like me......................I'll run with your suggestion.
Again thanks for your help and advice.
John.

 

[BrokenBiker]

to be honest the size of the bottle only alters how often you have to get a refill. just avoid the disposable bottles. they aren't worth the money.

the type of welding you do will have some bearing on the gas you need but argoshield is pretty much everything you will need for mild steel for hobby use

 

[dannyp]

i found my biggest gas saveings came from to places

1) makeing sure the gas pipe dosent leack
2) 2 stage reg ( i'll clarify this by saying why ) singel stage regs are fine but they tend to creep as the bottel pressure goes down the outlet pressure will stedaly rise , also some the output pressure seems to creep up a fair bit when your not useign gas. if your just starting out and doing a littel welding this won't really help you but if your useing a few reels of wire a week it makes a diffrence.

• gas pressure in the gas line is much more constant, over the wole bottel and dosent creep. some regs you can set to 12-15 LPM on a new bottel in the morning and next day it'll have climbed upto 25-30 LPM ( swap the bottel it'll be back down

 

[smurf]

to be honest the size of the bottle only alters how often you have to get a refill. just avoid the disposable bottles. they aren't worth the money.

the type of welding you do will have some bearing on the gas you need but argoshield is pretty much everything you will need for mild steel for hobby use

Hi brokenbiker,

I had to check out the Elektra Beckum mig welder just to see if it would operate (hasn't been used in 7-8 yrs) and give it a good cleaning inside, check for loose connections and general overall condition. Replaced the tip inside torch head, took off wire feed wheel which was rusty and gave it a thorough cleaning and got it like new. Then I purchased a disposable bottle for 19 euros. Hooked it all up, then pressed the trigger and you can hear the gas and wire coming from the gun. That's where I am now.
Argoshield is the way to go alright, just deciding on value for money. I'm going to a local supplier tomorrow and see what they have on offer.
Thanks for advice and for steering me in the right direction. Much obliged.

John.

 

[smurf]

i found my biggest gas saveings came from to places

1) makeing sure the gas pipe dosent leack
2) 2 stage reg ( i'll clarify this by saying why ) singel stage regs are fine but they tend to creep as the bottel pressure goes down the outlet pressure will stedaly rise , also some the output pressure seems to creep up a fair bit when your not useign gas. if your just starting out and doing a littel welding this won't really help you but if your useing a few reels of wire a week it makes a diffrence.

• gas pressure in the gas line is much more constant, over the wole bottel and dosent creep. some regs you can set to 12-15 LPM on a new bottel in the morning and next day it'll have climbed upto 25-30 LPM ( swap the bottel it'll be back down

Hi dannyp,

Thanks for your reply. I appreciate the information on the single and 2 stage regulators differences. As you point out for hobby domestic use it wouldn't make sense to install a 2 stage reg, the single stage would do me fine.
As for leaks, there doesn't appear to be any, all seems well.
I got in contact with a supplier here and his charges are as follows.
Hobbyweld 5 bottle deposit = 85 euros
Bottle price = 46 euros
Refill = 46 euros
All above prices include VAT at 23%.
The bottle is 93% argon, 5% carbon dioxide, 2% oxygen.
They also do regulators to suit at 40 euros.
I could look around for a better price, but having a local supplier so close to hand might be the better choice.
Again thanks for the information you supplied dannyp, makes life a whole lot easier when deciding what to do.
Thanks.
John.