- Thread starter vic
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Jim_gsxr1000
Mechanical Magician
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i agree not much to pick between the cheap ones, if u want quality, BOC make high quality ones, you need deep pockets tho!
Lawnmowerboy
Member
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- 2,165
Wescol are good. Not a lot in it price wise and made in the UK
zardoz
Old school Socialist
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- Chetser, UK
Weldy sells the Wescols here. I'd pay the extra 12 quid and get a decent make. These Wescols are made in the UK and good quality. (As far as I can tell)
http://www.weldequip.com/argon-regulator-se.htm
http://www.weldequip.com/argon-regulator.htm
http://www.weldequip.com/argon-regulator-se.htm
http://www.weldequip.com/argon-regulator.htm
SWP regulator / Southwest Gas
I bought one, and it's ok. Looks well made, works ok and the gauges seem accurate enough. It's marked on the rear as Inspect/Change 2017.
Overall I'm very pleased for the money.
Also if anyone's interested, I can also report that I have just acquired a bottle of the Argon 5 mix from Southwest Gas Supplies, and it works well on thin sheet mild steel (MGB) plus I got the £10 rebate as mentioned by Alan Holly. Another good deal.
I bought one, and it's ok. Looks well made, works ok and the gauges seem accurate enough. It's marked on the rear as Inspect/Change 2017.
Overall I'm very pleased for the money.
Also if anyone's interested, I can also report that I have just acquired a bottle of the Argon 5 mix from Southwest Gas Supplies, and it works well on thin sheet mild steel (MGB) plus I got the £10 rebate as mentioned by Alan Holly. Another good deal.
I have to ask.. What makes a "good" regulator.. I assume something which gives a constant flow, but I find it hard to believe that there can be a 'bad' regulator for this purpose.
I have a SWP one, and am only a DIY welder.. I had added a flow gauge and my gives a constant flow at what ever rate I decide..
So what exactly is the difference between a cheap and expensive regulator? And why would one be good and another bad?
Jon
I have a SWP one, and am only a DIY welder.. I had added a flow gauge and my gives a constant flow at what ever rate I decide..
So what exactly is the difference between a cheap and expensive regulator? And why would one be good and another bad?
Jon
stuvy
Member
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- 9,304
My first SWP reg the diaphram went in under a month and squealed which was really annoying. I sent it back got another and its been fine.
My mate has a BOC one and it feels better made than the SWP one long term im going to upgrade as the dials look very cheap and without a flow control gauge the reg is reading too low
My mate has a BOC one and it feels better made than the SWP one long term im going to upgrade as the dials look very cheap and without a flow control gauge the reg is reading too low
Jim Hewlett
New Member
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- 1
SWP flow meter failure
I just moved from pub gas CO2 to Hobbyweld 5 argon. It certainly improved the welding on my old (1987) Sealey 100XT. The bottle ran out rather quickly because I hadn't realised that the flow meter was stuck. I assume it's supposed to return to zero when the welding stops. Reading the posts on the matter I would suggest that the SWP is a cheap and cheerful option, but check that the meters are working. I'll be looking for a fine-tune flowmeter if anybody has any advice, and since I'm paying £30 per refill, any suggestions on suppliers (west Edinburgh area).Ta.
I just moved from pub gas CO2 to Hobbyweld 5 argon. It certainly improved the welding on my old (1987) Sealey 100XT. The bottle ran out rather quickly because I hadn't realised that the flow meter was stuck. I assume it's supposed to return to zero when the welding stops. Reading the posts on the matter I would suggest that the SWP is a cheap and cheerful option, but check that the meters are working. I'll be looking for a fine-tune flowmeter if anybody has any advice, and since I'm paying £30 per refill, any suggestions on suppliers (west Edinburgh area).Ta.
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- Birmingham
Welcome 
to the forum
The flow meter is probably OK, sounds like you have a problem with gas control, either the valve in the torch or gas solenoid inside welder is stuck in the open position, depending on which sort that type of welder has.
to the forumThe flow meter is probably OK, sounds like you have a problem with gas control, either the valve in the torch or gas solenoid inside welder is stuck in the open position, depending on which sort that type of welder has.
Jim Davey
R H Davey Welding Supplies Ltd
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A bad reg will allow pressure to build while you stop welding, causing a wasteful surge of gas on startup. Coupled to this they tend to increase output flow as the bottle empties unless regularly adjusted (this sounds wrong but it's bottle pressure vs spring pressure against the diaphragm that meters out how much gas flow you get) again wasting gas, this is the reason multistage regs exist. There are a multitude of other ways in which a cheap reg or an expensive one can go bad but those are the main ones.
