Gases for TIG and MIG

[engybenjy]

Ive had a search about and it seems that the consensus is the you need PURE Argon for TIG, and this will cover MS/SS/Ali, and Argoshield for MIG.

Would you:-

a) Strongly agree?

b) Niether agree or disagree?

c) Strongly disagree?

Cheers, Ben

 

[Wozzaaah]

Strongly agree that they're the ideal two but if you're on a budget and not overly fussed on weld appearance you can get away with using plain CO2 for mig welding mild steel.

 

[wyn]

Definately A

 

[Gasman]

In a nutshell "A"

 

[pedrobedro]

Is the question "Do you think you should use the correct gas for welding ?" How can anyone contradict the standard practise ? You can also use fluxed wire with no gas for mig, you can mig aluminium and stainless using Argon gas and you can buy special mixes with Helium added for tig welding. I'll go for B

 

[Wozzaaah]

So, regardless of what you can and can't use, what do you suggest a learner might be better off with then Pedro?
Also, what gases do you use?

 

[pedrobedro]

So, regardless of what you can and can't use, what do you suggest a learner might be better off with then Pedro?
Also, what gases do you use?

I have an argoshield heavy, an argon and a pub gas co2. The argon is on a Stel tig and the argoshield heavy is chained to the shed wall for use with the minarc mig. The co2 is on the trolley with the minarc for portability. There's a Portapak in there as well with oxyacetylene just for occasional heating jobs but it doesn't get used much now, I tend to use a blowlamp with propane or a mapp gas torch. If he's doing tig he needs argon and if he's using mig he should go with what is appropriate for the job.

 

[Wozzaaah]

So you're basically saying you use pure argon for tig and mostly argoshield for mig?

 

[pedrobedro]

So you're basically saying you use pure argon for tig and mostly argoshield for mig?

Yes, what is your point ?

 

[Wozzaaah]

My point is that you could have quite easily put that in your first reply instead of confusing the issue by talking about flux cored wire and helium mixes which have no relevance to Ben's question.
The most relevant answer to Ben's simple question was that argon and argonmix are the best two as answered by everyone else and finally by yourself.

 

[pedrobedro]

I was unsure whether Ben was asking a question about the correct gas to use or conducting a poll on which gas you would prefer to use or fishing for ideas on alternatives. Co2 was not mentioned in the original post but in the second post by yourself.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I apologise then, I took your reply as sounding a little pedantic and didn't want Ben to end up more confused than when he started the thread.

 

[pedrobedro]

S'alright, no apologies needed for a healthy debate with a happy conclusion

 

[Sid]

Partly agree...

Tig can use argon, helium, or a mix.

Mig can use argon/CO2 mixes (possibly with O2 in small amounts), straight CO2, or Argon for aluminium.