How can I check gas is coming out?

[CoolHands]

I can't get that small white pipe back out the regulator. It pushed in and now its been grabbed and I can't get it out.

I bought (today) a clarke 160T mig and also a small bottle of argon/co2 and the appropriate regulator from machinemart. I tested the regulator on the bottle before connecting up the white pipe, and it didn't seem to work very well it was either all or nothing (the numbers from 0 to 6 made no difference from what I could tell).

However, I was just fiddling really, and didn't think much of it - I thought maybe when its hooked up it'll be ok.

Anyway, then I pushed white pipe in and tried practice welding on some angle-iron.

It looks sh*t!!!! Its also spitting a LOT, and the weld is just lying on top of the metal (more or less, maybe some pentration ) it defo isn't good.

Anyway, I can't seem to tell if the gas is making any difference - whatever way I turn the regulator (ie 0 or 6).

I have the wire speed etc on medium settings just for testing.

Questions:
1) What the best settings to test on? (ie amperage 2 ; siwtch low?)
2) wire speed? (I got it on numer 5 out of 10 I think it is)
3) how to get white pipe out to test regulator?
4) how does light surface rust affect the welding? (I tried cleaning it with wire wheel but didn't seem to make much difference)

Thanks all - I went and bought this today (plus a load of 40 x 40 x 3 angle iron (steel) to make a workbench frame in my garage (may post some pics if you like)

but got stuck at the first hurdle

ps I have welded before when I was a mechanic, but it was years ago and the equipment was always already set up by the bodyshop gofers

Chris

pps great forum I read it before I made my purchase

 

[Haze]

u will be able to hear the gas, sounds like either your bottle is empty or the regulator is at fault.

 

[malcolm]

True enough - don't rely on the numbers on those little regulators. You might have a chance of some gas coming out if you screw the regulator knob completely in, possibly there will still be gas if you back off by one turn, but past that there won't be any gas. Numbers are for decorational purposes only.

If you wanted to remove the plastic pipe hold the outer part of the connection in to the valve, then withdraw the pipe.

Otherwise it is possible to hear the hiss when you press the trigger if things are working correctly. And being able to just hear the hiss would mean gas is on the low side. Sounds like that is the problem.

 

[CoolHands]

ok got the pipe out so I could check the gas flow - it only flows on max, basically.

Crappy quality regulator