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[Dynamics]

Q1. Is there a way to tell when the shielding gas has got to the torch and is ready to start welding?

Q2. When I finished welding, I closed the bottle valve, screwed out the regulator to release all gas pressure, (Gauges reading zero) and left the flowmeter as is. Is this correct?

Brian.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Answer to Q.1, Squeeze the trigger for a second to purge any air out. Just good practice really. You should hear the gas coming out.

Answer to Q.2, Yes.

 

[Dynamics]

Cheers Mate. I seem to remember reading somewhere it took about 5 seconds to get from bottle to torch. I must have dreamt it.

 

[gordon stephenson]

When starting from fresh I always flip off the roller tension and purge for about 5 seconds.

 

[BrokenBiker]

as above really, and yes always shut off the bottle and wind out the reg

 

[Jim Davey]

Cheers Mate. I seem to remember reading somewhere it took about 5 seconds to get from bottle to torch. I must have dreamt it.

Depends on torch length, we made up some special 20 metre torches for the local refinery, they recon it took a good 15-20 seconds to purge and about 5 litres of coolant to fill the water hoses up. The coolant tank on the machine is only two litres though so you had to prime the hoses with coolant before you fitted the torch or the tank would run dry trying to fill them. Fun.

But on a normal torch it doesn't take long at all, its worth bearing in mind that argon is heavier than air, so if your machine is on a bench and your torch hangs down on the floor, if it's left for long the gas will drain out and be replaced with air.

 

[shenion]

On my torch, I can hear the difference when the line is purged. The hiss has a lower tone when the cooler argon reaches the end.

 

[Dynamics]

When starting from fresh I always flip off the roller tension and purge for about 5 seconds.

Hi.

Yes, I think it was one of your posts that I read, when I was searching the forum for an answer.

Thanks, Brian.

 

[Dynamics]

its worth bearing in mind that argon is heavier than air, so if your machine is on a bench and your torch hangs down on the floor, if it's left for long the gas will drain out and be replaced with air.

Thanks, I didn't realise that.

 

[Dynamics]

On my torch, I can hear the difference when the line is purged. The hiss has a lower tone when the cooler argon reaches the end.

I'll see next time if I can hear a difference.

Otherwise... 5 seconds it is then.

 

[Dynamics]

I was welding in the garage, with gas set to 15 LPM. I think this may be to high...

 

[the snooper]

set it to 10 lpm

 

[Robotstar5]

I was welding in the garage, with gas set to 15 LPM. I think this may be to high...

Around 8-10 would be fine

 

[Dynamics]

Thanks Gents, I will adjust it down next time.

Erm... Inside the tube is a small black cylinder, with a tapered-to-a-point bottom.

Where do you read it from?

 

[mike 109444]

Ref the float in the tube. If you look at the float when there is no gas flowing "0" the line for "0" will be through the part of the float that you take the reading from (think you will find it's the widest point of the float or if it uses a ball then it's the widest part of the ball)

 

[Dynamics]

Thanks Mate, I will check this out.