New refill from Adams gives better welding???

[Chickenjohn]

I'm welding thin mild steel on one of my Morris Minors, typically 0.9/1mm up to 2mm.

Recently got a fresh gas cylinder from Adams gas and straight away the performance of my Clarke 150 TE was noticably better- better penetration, flatter neater welds, the welding sounds better and needs less dressing. And the only thing that has changed is the gas cylinder.

What could be the cause of the improved performance?? Was the last cylinder slightly contaminated??

any idead?

 

[cumbriasteve]

is it the same percentage mix of argon and co2, you can get 95/5 and 80/20

 

[Chickenjohn]

The last cylinder was just CO2 welding gas and this one is also CO2 (unless they sold me an Argo mix cylinder by mistake???).

 

[cazl1994]

its not argon mix because your reg wouldn't fit if it was argon mix

 

[cumbriasteve]

Perhaps you have nudged the regulator and have slightly higher gas flow...other than that..a mystery

 

[Chickenjohn]

its not argon mix because your reg wouldn't fit if it was argon mix

They may have accidentally filled a CO2 cylinder with Argon mix??? Possible?

As for the regulator, no, it is set to the same position on the l/min scale.

 

[malcolm]

Can you find welds to post photos of? The finish on pure CO2 and Argon mix welds are noticeably different - the Argon mix ones are a lot smoother.

 

[rtbcomp]

They may have accidentally filled a CO2 cylinder with Argon mix??? Possible?

..........

It shouldn't be possible, because the argon mix supply will have the correct connector for the appropiate bottle, like the regulators have.

Also CO2 bottles work at 50 bar, argon mix is around 300 bar IIRC so a CO2 bottle will be working beyond its safety limit.

 

[andy c]

What does it say on the side of the bottle? Is it green or another colour?

Did you want co2 instead of an argon mix?

 

[madkayaker]

you must just be getting better!

 

[Chickenjohn]

you must just be getting better!

Maybe, I had to do some very cramped upside down butt welding near the spring hanger on my traveller to get another MOT (passed, yay!) and managed to do some fairly respectable welds considering the circumstances.......but why should my technique suddenly improve with a change of cylinder?

 

[madkayaker]

all time time on here is paying off the first day of my tig training i was really struggling second day (a week later) picked the torch off and was away had not touched a welder all week

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

What could be the cause of the improved performance?? Was the last cylinder slightly contaminated??

Pressure low gas?