Regulators & Flowmeters

[Julian_P]

Hi to all on the forum as this is my first post. I've been around here for a while picking up tips etc but I wonder if anyone has an easy solution to this problem

I've never used a flowmeter, relying on listening to the torch and holding it close to my face. Not scientific or accurate so I finally invested in a flowmeter off ebay. The trouble is it doesn't marry up to anything and it says 'max pressure input - 100psi'' so obviously it can't go straight on the bottle. What do I need to get things working?

Here is what I have at the moment on my Clarke 160T:

And this is what I purchased:

Cheers Julian.

 

[Seano]

Julian, on the right side of your reg you will see a small black blanking plug, remove that, then get yourself a male / male adaptor ( can't remember size offhand) that then screws into your reg where you have just removed the blank, then your fm screws onto that, take the blank and your fm along to a weld suppliers or plumb center and they can sort you out, HTH....

 

[Julian_P]

Julian, on the right side of your reg you will see a small black blanking plug, remove that, then get yourself a male / male adaptor ( can't remember size offhand) that then screws into your reg where you have just removed the blank, then your fm screws onto that, take the blank and your fm along to a weld suppliers or plumb center and they can sort you out, HTH....

Ok, thanks. That plastic blanking bung is actually a cap for a safety valve, underneath is a spring and the 'bung' has a drilling through it.

Not to worry though as if I rotate the regulator through 90 degrees I can remove the adaptor (to the nylon pipe you see on the picture) and use that as it's the same size thread.

If it's just a case of getting some adaptors then I'll sort it out easily enough, I'm guessing that it's all the standard BSP threads?

Julian.

 

[Piero]

thats right julian,
as you said, just turn it and use the old oulet port.

 

[langy]

Ok, thanks. That plastic blanking bung is actually a cap for a safety valve, underneath is a spring and the 'bung' has a drilling through it.

Not to worry though as if I rotate the regulator through 90 degrees I can remove the adaptor (to the nylon pipe you see on the picture) and use that as it's the same size thread.

If it's just a case of getting some adaptors then I'll sort it out easily enough, I'm guessing that it's all the standard BSP threads?

Julian.

Gas out of reg goes into the flow meter, just a case of an adaptor or 2

 

[Julian_P]

Gas out of reg goes into the flow meter, just a case of an adaptor or 2

Sorted now thanks, (fingers crossed) just got an adaptor nipple to get from reg to fm, and some reducing bushes to get from fm outlet to that little nylon pipe push fitting thing.

I got them off ebay, hopefully I've done my homework OK and got the right sizes!

Julian.

 

[Julian_P]

All screwed together and working now thanks!

Just two more questions:

1. The fm is for argon gas, however I'm on Hobby Weld 5 which is 95% argon 5% CO2 - is there much, if any, difference in calibration on the fm between pure argon and the mixed gas?

2. With the reg on max and the fm full open the most I can get is about 11 l/min. With the nylon outlet pipe disconnected I can get a flow that sees the metal slug in the fm hit against the top! The restriction is obviously caused by the nylon pipe, or something with the welder, do I need to replace that nylon pipe with some proper rubber hose or should I just leave it alone and stop fussing

Cheers Julian.

 

[penfold]

1. practically there is no difference

2. Does the weld look ok? If so, stop fussing.

 

[Julian_P]

Cheers, the weld is OK I think. MIG is new to me as I've stick welded mainly but finding that I need something for thinner stuff.

Anyway, Clarke 160T, 3mm strip sitting on 6mm strip. 95% argon gas 7L/min. Voltage at 3 max (full chat) wire at 6.75 and 0.8mm wire. I just get a regular 'popping' sound in with the bacon frying sound and a light brown dust covers the weld that comes off with a couple of strokes of the wire brush. What settings need changing? I know more practice is needed to get it looking neat

Julian.

 

[M@tt]

I've just bought the same flowmeter, any chance of a link to the adapters you bought to connect the 2 things up?

Cheers