what is nitrogen used for

[BrokenBiker]

as above really. Noticed the welding bay in work had about 6 bottles of nitrogen delivered today and wondered what they were for

 

[Welderpaul]

Purging or for plasma on ally.

 

[BrokenBiker]

cool. Learn something new everyday cheers

 

[Fazerruss]

Purging or for plasma on ally.

So how does it compare to using compressed air for plasma?

 

[Paul.]

Also used with laser cutters

 

[Welderpaul]

I believe it gives a better quality cut on mild steel with less oxidisation of the cut edge, and fairly essential for cutting ally.

 

[piman]

Hello Paul,

I'm contemplating a plasma cutter, and watched Doubleboost's video of the R tech machine. In it he cut a variety of materials which included aluminium all with compressed air. I thought that the cut was pretty good and as I do a bit of aluminium work I'd like to hear opinions on cutting aluminium with a plasma?

Alec

 

[backpurge]

Aluminium is readily cut with plasma, it leaves a very neat edge. What gas you use quite often depends upon the make of machine. This could be air, nitrogen, argon/hydrogen mixtures
You will need to dress the edges to get rid of the surface oxide layer formed by the cut unless you are using argon before you can do any welding

 

[backpurge]

as above really. Noticed the welding bay in work had about 6 bottles of nitrogen delivered today and wondered what they were for"

Could be for purging austenitic stainless, will get better results with argon and loads better results with Forming Gas

 

[HMB]

Aha just noticed this post. Just got a miller plasma cutter but have no compressor. Primarily I need to cut ally(3mm) so could I use N2, if so what regulator would I need for the cylinder (boc)

 

[BrokenBiker]

weldequipsell nitrogen regs top of the page.

 

[Shox Dr]

Or in my case for charging Suspension units. (Don't believe the bullcrap about using it in tyres, it's molecular structure is smaller than air and leaks out very quickly from Rubber, the reason they use it in F1 tyres is the same reason it's used in Suspension units: It doesn't expand with temperature, so the pressure stays the same)

As for the Regs, a proper Nitrogen Reg is big bucks. I paid 350quid for ours. (No longer used so can list it in the for sale section if anyone is interested)

 

[Wendelspanswick]

I am sure I have seen Nitrogen as one of the brewery gases so that may be the source for a cheap reg.

 

[Shox Dr]

I am sure I have seen Nitrogen as one of the brewery gases so that may be the source for a cheap reg.

Correct, they use in in all this crap Beer they sell these days as cream flow. Nitrogen has smaller bubbles*, So makes the head** on the beer last longer.

*see my last post
**Beer should have a head, not the pint of pish you get sarf of watford. Neither should it be as cold as larger, as the Scottish seem to think. Cold beer tastes of nowt, just like one with no life in it!

 

[Paul99]

I am sure I have seen Nitrogen as one of the brewery gases so that may be the source for a cheap reg.

Yep you get a 30% Nitrogen / 70% co2 mix for dispensing worthies etc and it's crossed my mind a few times if such a mix could be used with a plasma cutter if you were stuck for compressed air - The regulator/bottle fitting used for nitrogen mixed gas is the same as for Argon / argon mix bottles. Sods law says my brother gave up the pub trade now so not as easy to borrow a bottle to try it but we've still got all the kit to do outside bars and next time we have one to do I will bring the bottle home to try it.

 

[Jan]

It's also useful for charging the hydraulic accumulators on early (pre 1977) Rolls Royces and Bentleys. The later ones aren't user serviceable and can only be replaced.

 

[marfyboy]

We use it for purging natural gas pipework pre welding or soldering. Nitrogen being an inert gas no big bang.

 

[piman]

Hello Dr Shox,

"**Beer should have a head, not the pint of **** you get sarf of watford. Neither should it be as cold as larger, as the Scottish seem to think. Cold beer tastes of nowt, just like one with no life in it!"

Well said, the marketing people of the big brewers have a lot to answer for, mind you they have a pretty average product to push.

Alec

 

[Jim Davey]

We use it to pressure test gas hoses after we repair them.