Mig Gas questions

[sotal]

I've currently got a Small Welder - A Clarke Turbo 150TE

I'm only an occasional user and I'm not great - I can weld so it's secure but never looks that pretty!

My problem with the welder at the moment is with the gas. It's currently setup to use the mini disposable bottles at about £10 a time. The Regulator which goes on top goes from 0-6, when turning the reg with a full bottle of gas it only starts to hiss when it gets to about 5.5. So I presume the reg is now knackered?

The gas has just run out again so I'm just wanting to make sure there isn't a better option if I'm about to buy a regulator and a bottle of gas? Is there a bigger bottle system I can go for?

If not can I convert it to gasless? Or just use gasless wire in it? I realise that you're supposed to get a better result with gas but as I'm not that good maybe it doesn't matter?!

Thanks in advance

P.S - just out of interest is the welder any good? Or would I be better saving up for a better one?

 

[sotal]

I've had a quick look on ebay etc, and there seems to be plenty of people selling full or empty large bottles, but it all seems a little dodgy to get them refilled. A full large bottle would probably last me ages anyway but is it really that difficult to get them refilled?

I don't like the thought of an annual rent on bottles - I would much prefer to buy a bottle and pay to refill it.

The little bottles I currently use are argon mix, some of the big bottles I have seen are argon mix, but some are plain co2 or some say beer gas. I never noticed much difference between argon or plain co2 with the mini bottles. Does it make much difference?

 

[sotal]

apologies, have now read the sticky and realise I have posted this in the wrong place

 

[flatmajor]

apologies, have now read the sticky and realise I have posted this in the wrong place

not to worry it will get moved if mods wish too.

you can get bigger bottles from various gas suppliers, there a thread of gas suppliers listed here on the forum. i use air products, i use co2 as its the cheapest. but there is suppliers out there that will refill your bottle but it would cost you more? the reason why is there not charging you for rental. you would be suppriesed on how much you would get charged for rental, if you shop arround you can get it cheap. i pay, blast cant remember, i think around?, must be the bottle or 2 of wine ive drunk tonight, realy i cant remember?? any way its not that bad. how much welding do you do? i wouldnt buy a bottle off ebay for health and safety reasons. ill update when level headed.

cheers

 

[flatmajor]

right, ive found my reciept from last purchase, 26p a day. so not that bad. i pay on collection 23.93 and that for the x305 bottle, around a medium size botle, thats the exchange price. cheers

 

[shenion]

Which disposables were you using?

Argon/CO2 comes in 2 sizes that last about 10 or 15 minutes.

The CO2 cans last much longer (have heard an hour of use.) Still expensive, but not as bad as the Ar/CO2 cans.

If you are doing thin bodywork, you would want argon/CO2 mix as straight CO2 is a bit difficult to use.

Renting a big bottle is cheaper if you use the welder more than just a few times a year.

The Clarke is a good welder, they are a forum favorite for DIY use.

 

[sotal]

Thanks for the replies, from reading I don't think it's worth me paying a rental. I just don't use it enough.

Originally I was using co2 bottles but then I switched to argon mix but to be honest I haven't noticed a difference.

I've had the welder for 3 years now I think. In the first year I used it on two small jobs, couple of minutes of welding each time. The second year I used it once but on a major job (fixing up a discovery including replacing boot floor), I did a good few hours welding and used a few bottles of co2 and then argon mix (swicthed during that job). During the last year I've used it on 4 jobs, 3 fairly small then this last one was an hour or so. I've got three more jobs waiting to be done at the moment probably an hour or so each for two of them and 5 mins for the other. Next jobs are box section.

I've no idea when I'll next use it after this but I do have two Land rovers so there will be a need at some point! But as you can see I don't need it much - what I hate is doing a fairly big job and paying out £50 for little gas bottles which just get chucked.

I've found a local place that is supposed to do pub gas bottles for a £20 deposit, then £13 / refill. (So first bottle is £33 and will probably last ages) - Just need a regulator and adapter

 

[shenion]

A pub gas bottle will last a long time. My 30lb bottle is still going strong after 2 years.

weldequip's shop has a CO2 reg and adapter for small MIGs. With that and a pub bottle you should be set for a long time.

 

[flatmajor]

sotal, your disco lover i see. myself ive done many repair jobs, including boot floor pan. i done my l reg disco floor pan on flux cored wire. it took me a while to do as i was new to discos. i wish i did use gas then as it cost a bit. at least your sorted now. as shenion siad, weld equip has decent regs and value for money also. good luck

 

[sotal]

sotal, your disco lover i see. myself ive done many repair jobs, including boot floor pan. i done my l reg disco floor pan on flux cored wire. it took me a while to do as i was new to discos. i wish i did use gas then as it cost a bit. at least your sorted now. as shenion siad, weld equip has decent regs and value for money also. good luck

I can't really say I'm a Disco lover! I had a 300tdi, but only kept it a year - it was breaking faster than I could fix it!

I now have a series (which I've had for years) and a Range Rover P38

 

[flatmajor]

ha ha, i know the feeling. i sold my l reg disco, couldnt keep up with the rust. eventualy i sold it on.

 

[Robotstar5]

i sold my l reg disco, couldnt keep up with the rust. eventualy i sold it on.

My P reg was in lovely condition, just couldn't afford it's drinking habit - 3.9V8 it had to go

 

[sotal]

Yeah I know what you mean - the range rover is the 4.6 v8 so don't know how long I'll keep that!

 

[flatmajor]

get ya selfs a diesel and run it on bio. thats what i do with my p reg dissy.