New to welding need some advice

[Pete_1986]

Hey guys new to welding have bought myself a little migmate off eBay only a baby 100 amp

Have a few questions

What sort of gas should I use?

Also how should my torch be setup currently the tip is further out than the Stroud? Should this be the other way around?
Thanks in advance

 

[Pete_1986]

The tip ATM ordering new just wanted to see which way it should be
Thanks

 

[BrokenBiker]

either co2 or argon/co2 mix. co2 will be cheapest and if using it you will want the tip sat inside the shroud by a little bit. with argon mix I find the tip needs to be just proud of level

 

[richp123]

What are you intending to weld with it, i.e. mild steel or stainless steel or a mixture of both, and what thickness of material, because that will have some bearing on what type of gas you use.

 

[Pete_1986]

Mostly mild steel maybe some stainless. Finding it hard to get c02 I don't want to use the one time only use bottles been told they don't last 5 minutes and supplies you guys recommend?

 

[BrokenBiker]

adams gas, hobby weld, boc, air products, just google rent free welding gas and it should throw up a few results

 

[Pete_1986]

Ok cheers

 

[Jan]

More to the point: How much welding will you be doing and over what kind of time frame? If the answers are "a lot" and "more than a year" the best option is the BOC Volkszone offer for MIG/TIG argon mix/pure argon. £77 for the first 'Y' size cylinder per year, but only £30 or so for each subsequent refill in the same 12 month period. With each cylinder containing 20 litres of gas @ 230 BAR there's hours of welding in each of them.

With much of my time being taken up in erecting my new garage/workshop I've done very little welding practice lately, but I wouldn't swap out my BOC contract for any of the alternates. T'ain't woith it!