hardware for seperate argon and co2 bottles???

[nobel12]

Hello everyone,

I would like to set up my sheilding gas with seperate bottles of argon and co2. I am looking for the most cost effective (cheap) way to this.

I was thinking a flowmeter ( each with preset 25 psi reg ) for each tank, into a " Y or T " fitting and then into the mig. Sounds like it would work??
Then I could adjust my flows according to what I need for a ratio and material I am working on.

I would love to hear ideas and thoughts on the subject, any advise is very welcome, but again I dont want to spend more then I need to for this.

Thank you to everyone for the help I've got on my other questions!!!

 

[Weldingartisan]

I don't think it is that simple but I believe shenion (member) mixes his own gas and may be able to help. W/A

 

[Gasman]

Nice idea but to be honest its worth just purchasing the mix you require. What type of jobs do you have planned??

You will only ever need between 5 & 20% Co2 plus 2-3% oxygen plus the balance in hp argon for Mig so your cylinders empty at different rates, it then becomes a P.I.T.A to get consistent results.

There are proper gas blending stations available but this could be an expensive route, I expect Shenion will be along later....he mixes his own I believe.

 

[shenion]

You can use two regs and flowmeters Y-ed together. The pressures must be identical or one reg may vent out as it sees the pressure higher than the set value. Will need to be the glass tube/ball type flowmeters.

I mix my own here using a Smith gas mixer. Just turn the dial from 0-100% argon and go. These list for something like $1700.00 new. They appear on ebay; I got mine for $50. It is the proper way to do it as it has this complicated proportional valve that senses the flow of both gases.

I rarely change mine from 25% CO2 75% argon. I lower the CO2 for doing stainless or the occasional spray transfer.

Really, I would rather have a big bottle of 75/25 and a small bottle of pure argon. The gas mixer wastes a bunch of gas as there are a lot of fittings and hoses that slowly leak out gas. I must have 40' of hose between the tanks, regs, mixer and wire feeder. Would prefer something simpler. 75/25 would do most what I do, pure argon for TIG and would do stainless with a tall profile bead.

 

[nobel12]

I realize the tanks would empty at different rates, and I would be purchasing bottles at different times as needed. However, I dont want to be buying a 75/25 plus a 100 argon plus a 100 co2 ect.... just doesn't really make alot of sense to me.

If there is a way to run 2 bottles and mix it all, seems like a smarter way to go.

I really like to think it is that simple, but that's why I'm here. It just seems that if both preset regs are the same pressure they would't appose the other and would go into " T " not holding the other back. The flowmeter would decide how much gas should go into the " T " if you know what I mean. Well sounds good to this brain matter anyway

Like I said thats why I came here, to get some help!! Thanks again

 

[nobel12]

Well with that answer being said posted I have a wonderful suggestion, if you would really rather seperate bottles Shenion, would you like to sell your mixer for $50.00 plus shipping?

I think it's a great idea

Anyway, so what I am suggesting will work?? Thats what I'm hearing so far. Am I correct??

 

[shenion]

Yes, you would have to replace the argon more often. I have gone through 3, 125CF argon bottles and am still on the same CO2 tank. It still feels just as full when i bought it (30lbs of CO2.) The CO2 tank is 1/3 the size of the argon tank. As the CO2 tank is liquid, it holds many times the amount of gas by volume (gas/liquid ratio is almost 400 times).

Edit: I calculated it out: my 30lb CO2 tank is 197 cubic feet of gas. The argon tank is near 3 times as big and 125CF. At 75/25 I would need to change the argon tank 4 times.

I do some aluminum MIG and TIG, so the argon would need to be changed even more often.

Others here have used the dual flowmeters T-ed together. I would get two identical argon mix regs/flowmeters and an adapter to fit one to the CO2 tank.

 

[nobel12]

Sooo.... Shenion,

Is that a "no" to selling your mixer?

 

[shenion]

I may go to the dual reg setup. I have 3 gregs with flowmeters already. The mixer is 20+ years old an probably way out of calibration. There is an internal pressure regulator that developed a leak and I had to replace it. I measured the pressure and set the new the same.

$50 would not cover the fittings and hoses I had to buy as the mixer has 5/8-18 reverse-flange connectors that I had to buy from the gas supplier. I also opted for the recommended hose from the gas supplier.

 

[nobel12]

I was just kidding anyway, I couldn't imagine that $50 would cover the other costs ( there always are ) with any hobby/project especially with ebay items.

But the answers are very cool, thank you.