Getting started - tips and gas

[Pillock]

Hiya folks

I'm getting ready for a bit of a welding lesson next week, when a mate is coming over to demonstrate how to weld a sill on my car. Unfortunately my welder is apparently missing the tip, and I need to source the gas.

Now I must point out that I've not got the welder here, it was posted to me and I've yet to pick it up from the office so I'm going on what the seller, a friend and reliable guy, told me. It's a Sealy 150A Mig and was previously used on car bodywork and light fabrication.

Are there different tips for different jobs or is it just one for each welder? I've got an Energas place just up the road who I'm told supply them but I really don't know what to get.

Also, CO2 vs Argoshield - any thoughts? The welder apparently has a 'big bottle' regulator on it already, and I work part time in a pub and so have access to big CO2 bottles for not much money at all. Is it worth trying that, or should I just pay the cash and go straight for the Argon? Anyone know how much the going rate for a occasional-use Argosheild bottle is?

Thanks for any help, and apologies if these really are daft questions

 

[Alex]

If its thin bodywork and light fabrication I would go for Argon mix, its less likely to blow holes.

That new ground clamp makes a big difference, its like i've turned it up another power setting on the welder compared to the old clamp. Its a must for the price.

 

[Drains]

Hey Pillock. Great name!
tips usually come with an M6 thread or M8. Yours is probably an M6. They are relatively standard otherwise and most tips fit most machines, in the hobby market. The tip also needs to be sized to the weld wire. 0.6mm would be a good size for what you want to do. Argoshield light is much better for thin steel, but will cost you £28 for a small bottle or £37 for a larger one (£41 for full size), plus your rental at £5-7/month, plus a collection charge of £12. Simple and cheap! Not.

Or you can struggle with CO2. It can be done, it's just not so easy.

Good luck
Rgds Si

 

[shenion]

As for tips, there are different sizes to match the wire diameter.

If your mig is already set up for a "big bottle", then it likely has a regulator with fittings for industrial-type bottles. The pub CO2 bottles will have different fittings.

I would look at getting a argon/co2 mix. I think the argoshield is disposable, so would use even different fittings.

 

[Alex]

The Argoshield is a BOC refill gas. And as such a rip-off.

 

[Drains]

BOC gases are expensive, but compare equally with Air Products. We have no other suppliers up here so it's one of them or stick welding!

Actually I don't think they are that expensive. You seen the price of beer recently? Or diesel, or rent. Or my hourly labour rate!

 

[Alex]

Everything is expensive, but why wont they fill up a cylinder that you own, instead of charging rental on one of their cylinders. Its not enough for them to only charge when you use it, they have to charge when your not using it aswell.

You knows its a rip off, and thats without hefty duties, like on diesel and petrol.

BOC makes millions upon millions and has some big contracts with the NHS and all sorts.

Its about time some real competition comes along and stops unofficially rigged inflated prices.

I was going to stick it out with disposables rather than go with BOC or AP, simply because it was such a bad deal, that disposables were better value for my intended usage.

If Adams can price like they do, then the others can easily aswell.

 

[Pillock]

thanks for the warm welcome guys!

Plan is to go and fetch the welder today and unpack it, then I'll see what the deal with the tip and gas fittings are - I know what a pub bottle uses and you're right, they have a regulator already on top so it might not work straight out of the box However I do know someone else MIGs with pub CO2 so it must be possible. Guess it depends if the cost of adaptors and fittings is going to outweigh the cost of the 'right' bottle!

I have both an Energas place just around the corner, and a tool hire place that rents gas further into town so I'll pick their brains too.

Nice to know you're such a friendly bunch, I'll be sure to be asking more questions once I've blown holes in my first panels

 

[weldequip]

tips usually come with an M6 thread or M8. Yours is probably an M6. They are relatively standard otherwise and most tips fit most machines, in the hobby market.

Sorry to correct you Si not being a smart ****, but to save confusion, most hobby machines use M5 thread tips. It all depends on the model of course, but certainly all the smaller Clarke, SIP & Sealey machines use M5. When you start getting up to the larger models they then go onto M6.
weldequip

 

[marknotgeorge]

By the way, where are you from, Pillock?

 

[Drains]

Sorry to correct you Si not being a smart ****, but to save confusion, most hobby machines use M5 thread tips. It all depends on the model of course, but certainly all the smaller Clarke, SIP & Sealey machines use M5. When you start getting up to the larger models they then go onto M6.
weldequip

I didn't know they went so teeny. Apologies.
You are a smart **** but!

Si