what gas for what metal

[HockeyNomad]

Hi all,

I've recently got myself a thermal arc fabricator 2

With the fabricator I will mostly be using the mig function for welding mild steel 50mm x 50mm box and angle, 3 or 5mm thickness, I haven't decided yet. This will be for shelving and a workbench for the workshop, so what shielding gas would be best for mig on this mild steel?

I've seen various argon /co2 mixes from 75/25 to 98/2, and a few in between.

So what would be best suited to my application.

Cheers

Andy.

 

[gordon stephenson]

BOC Argoshield Light or equivalent from an other supplier, Check out the Volkzone deal to be found on this forum if you do search.

 

[HockeyNomad]

Thanks, I'm aware of the boc deals and will look into them along with a few other suppliers and weigh up the costs,

I don't suppose you know the mix of the BOC argonsheild?

 

[WorkshopChris]

Fro light use it all depends on personal choice and what materials you think you will weld, mostly over 3mm you are getting into Argoshield Universal territory. But if you are going to be welding thin sheet as well you might be better with Light.
But people have welded all in that range with Co2 as well for years.

 

[Lufbramatt]

Argoshield light is 5% CO2, 93% Argon, 2% O2.

 

[Paul G]

3 to 5mm; angle, box; I use Hobbyweld 15. It's welded MX5 sills to digger bucket repairs.

It's what BOC call "Argoshield Universal". The clue is in the name.

 

[Ed.]

A 93% Argon,5% CO2, 2% O2 trimix, is a good all round option for light to medium thickness steel, having said that you can also use it on thicker plate, I use it frequently on 10-12mm steel although for that I really should use a mix with more CO2 for better penetration, but it still works well. If you can only have one bottle then that is what I would suggest.

 

[zeppelin builder]

for what you are doing co2 is fine it also can probably had cheaper its used for pub gas and fire extinguishers yes its the same stuff and a suitable gauge can be fitted to both

 

[henry Kadzielski]

Good morning gents.
I use 52 (5% Co2 and 2%O2) this is pretty standard. It is also used at the Technical college here as the gas for all steel welding. I am doing the pressure ticket for solid wire mig on 12mm plate, so it does work. Co2 is supposed to give better penetration but suffers from appearance, so the 52 is a very good compromise. The penetration is then up to technique in all positions and that is learnt by practice (welding and breaking samples), (wire feed, voltage, wire diameter, gas, angle, stickout, material clenliness, technique etc). To get the weld right is not as easy as some people may think

 

[HockeyNomad]

So would the same gas be a good matching iwas to do some stainless steel

 

[outofthefire]

Yes works ok for stainless, don't worry too much about which gas if you're just a hobby welder. If you get a rent free bottle (which is the way i'd go if you don't know how much use your welders going to get) you won't get a lot of choice anyway.

 

[Willl]

It's welded MX5 sills to digger bucket repairs.

Why would you want to do that?

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Why would you want to do that?

A case of using what's to hand?

 

[HockeyNomad]

Why would you want to do that?

To protect the digger bucket I guess.