Twin regulator - setting up etc

[DrRob]

Hello!
New to this game...
Just got a new Argon twin guage reg and small hose adaptor (from Welders Warehouse) for my Clarke 151TE so I can ditch the disposable bottles. Got an Argon bottle from Hobbyweld.
What's the procedure for set up and operation of the system? The join between the 2 hoses seems to leak when I open the bottle valve plus no reading on left hand contents one. Right flow works.
HELP!!!!!!!
Thanks in advance
Rob

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

I hope you mean Argon/Co2 mix?
can you take pictures and point out exactly where its leaking as it's kinda difficult to know what you mean

other than use thread tape on threads (it isn'r reccomended between the bottle and reg)
and use decently fitting jubilee clips on hose to tail joins ect.

 

[mike 109444]

Welcome DrRob. If it is Argon only or Argon/CO2 mix then your bottle gauge part of your reg should be showing somewhere between 130 to 200! IF it is CO2 only then yor gauge will show very little due to the way CO2 behaves when under pressure. As lawnmowerboy has highlighted if you are welding steel then you would be using Argon/CO2 mix or just CO2. The other gauge on your reg is the flow gauge and should be set to about 10lts per min. Sort the leak in your connections or you will loose all your gas in no time. How is the small pipe suposed to connect to the big pipe/reg??

 

[DrRob]

Sorry, Argon, 5% CO2.
Pipe adaptor from reg to the 4mm welder pipe:
http://www.thewelderswarehouse.com/Welding/Large_Cylinder_Adaptor_.html#aGA05_2e
It's leaking from where the 4mm is pushed into the connector. Will be calling welding warehouse tomorrow. I reckon:
1) Contents guage is ******ed
2) Connector is cheap sh*te......!
Cheers for the help
Rob

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Theyre always s***e them little connectors i have found a decent jubilee clip and a little bit of insulating tape works much better than them connectors

 

[DrRob]

Theyre always s***e them little connectors i have found a decent jubilee clip and a little bit of insulating tape works much better than them connectors

Not happy that they sell something that is not "fit for purpose".....!! If I have to ditch the connector to make it seal then a hefty refund will be requested.
Any idea why guage doesn't show a reading?
Cheers
Rob

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

Wit most regulators then the gas adjustment nob is sorta left hand thread, i didn't realise it until i tried to weld with it so if you unscrew it completely there should be no gas this is treating it like a normal thread and screwing it in should increase the flow/pressure

silly question but is the bottle on, gas in it ect.? also my reg had a blanking plug on the high pressure inlet that you have to remove

 

[DaveB]

Any decent regulator will have a filter in the stem that screws into the bottle, it is usually a piece of porous metal and can be visible just inside the stem or hidden way up inside it. Never use thread tape or any lubricant on the bottle connection.

For the connection to the welders small hard nylon pipe there are air power connectors that just push together, should be available easily - look for 'push fit' in ebay.

Dave

 

[DrRob]

Wit most regulators then the gas adjustment nob is sorta left hand thread, i didn't realise it until i tried to weld with it so if you unscrew it completely there should be no gas this is treating it like a normal thread and screwing it in should increase the flow/pressure

silly question but is the bottle on, gas in it ect.? also my reg had a blanking plug on the high pressure inlet that you have to remove

New bottle - flow guage reading and hissing confirms that. Turn reg clockwise and flow increases so that's working....
On tutorial here it says:
"Check that the pressure knob is backed off anticlockwise, fit your gas hose and flowmeter if you have one, then turn on the cylinder valve, nice and gently so as not to shock the regulator, normally only about one quarter turn is enough.

Trigger the welder to open the gas valve and wind the pressure knob in to set the flow rate, if using a flowmeter, open it up fully, set the flow on the reg a bit higher than you need, then fine tune using the flowmeter control knob"

Perhaps triggering the welder will make the guage work?

 

[DrRob]

For the connection to the welders small hard nylon pipe there are air power connectors that just push together, should be available easily - look for 'push fit' in ebay.

Dave

That's what's on the end of the pipe I bought so why isn't it gas tight. Perhaps there are various grades of quality....
Will be calling welders warehouse Tues am...

 

[DrRob]

Both regulator and connector pipe being replaced later this week.......hopefully replacements will work! Supplier was really helpful.

 

[DaveB]

Perhaps there are various grades of quality....

Most definitely.

www.floteconline-catalogue.co.uk - brass body

or

www.floteconline-catalogue.co.uk - stainless body.

As ever you pays your money and takes your choice...

Dave

Edited : Thursday 12th 2012 to correct links

 

[DrRob]

Most definitely.

www.floteconline-catalogue.co.uk - brass body

or

www.floteconline-catalogue.co.uk - stainless body.

As ever you pays your money and takes your choice...

Dave

Links not working

 

[DaveB]

Links not working

Apologies, now sorted, I should know better with the amount of web stuff I've done.

Dave

 

[DrRob]

Looks like Hobbyweld sold me an almost empty cylinder causing no end of hassle for me!!! I wouldn't like to be the recipient of my call on Monday!!!!!!!