CO2 or mix for MIG
Steve B
argon/CO2, but the cost for refilling is quite a lot more than CO2. The mix
gives a better weld with slightly less spatter, but other than that, is it
worth all the extra money?
What do you use, and why?
Steve
Big Ben
I prefer straight CO2 for everyday welding with 0.035, C10 (90%Argon/
10%CO2) for spray transfer process with 0.035 and yes it can be done
with a standard GMAW set-up...C25 is a good all-round mix for everyday
welding that will provide good results with 0.030, 0.035, 0.045
straight wire and dual shield wire.
straight CO2 does require better technique OR more grinding, but in my
experience, you do get a stronger weld with it than with C25, and it's
cheaper.
it's going to come down to your personal preferences and/or abilities.
if you're getting lots of spatter with straight CO2, you may need to
adjust your flow, your heat and/or speed settings, your technique or
all of the above....but seeing as how no two welders run exactly
alike, it could be that your particular machine is not suited for
running CO2 /shrug/
--
Big Ben
BS266
the "hot metal is fun" Slug
Randy
92% Ar 8% Co2 better weld quality and the ability to spray transfer
weld. You need 10% or less Co2 for spray transfer, or so I was told.
Thank You,
Randy
Remove 333 from email address to reply.
Snag
You DO get around doncha ? I'm using CO2 with .025 ER70S6 , got C25 too but
hardly ever use it . I'm using a 110V Lincoln WeldPak 100 , it doesn't
handle over 1/8" well unless I preheat .
--
Snag
"90 FLHTCU "Strider"
'39 WLDD "PopCycle"
BS 132/SENS/DOF
Big Ben
> You DO get around doncha ? I'm using CO2 with .025 ER70S6 , got C25 too but
> hardly ever use it . I'm using a 110V Lincoln WeldPak 100 , it doesn't
> handle over 1/8" well unless I preheat .
why yes sir, I do...LoL
there's folks I know that swore I lived 150+ miles from where I really
live because I've popped up on my scoot so often...
as fer weldin' I'm currently limited to an old AC unit...it's a red
one...it welds passably well...at Ma's place, an el-cheapo 110 gasless
unit at Dad's, and a $10,000 TIG/stick unit that I never heard of at
the firehall....funny as hell...they spent all that dough and nobody
but me knows how to run the darn thing....the outlets alone ran about
$1500 apiece...try to teach (older) country boys how to do anything
other than a "farm weld" is challenging... at least they know that
they don't know anything about the mo-sheen or the processes...woulda
been easier if they had just got a $4-6000 miller wire/stick unit and
got a spool gun for aluminum /shrug/
ah well, at least they got the right gas for it
--
Big Ben
BS266
the "sometimes I just show up" Slug
dca...@krl.org
> 92% Ar 8% Co2 better weld quality and the ability to spray transfer
> weld. You need 10% or less Co2 for spray transfer, or so I was told.
>
I have some dual shield wire that does spray with 100% CO2. But I
believe you are right for solid wire.
Dan
Gunner Asch
<desertt...@dishynail.net> wrote:
99% of my mig welding is with CO2 only.
Its hotter then argon..so a smaller machine makes a deeper weld, but it
does tend to splatter a bit more than 75/25 and is not as "pretty" a
weld..which is subjective of course. Particularly under a coat of paint.
Since most of my welding is rough welding..a fast pass with a good stiff
wire wheel takes off the splatter.
And CO2 is VERY inexpensive and lasts and lasts. Something like 35% of
the cost of argon, with about 800% or more...or more of the amount of
available gas in the bottle.
I have 127 cf bottle of Tri-mix out there as well. REALLY a hot arc and
the wire SCREAMS out of the gun.
Then Ive got probably 500 cf of pure argon, for TIG.
Gunner, with 11 bottles of various gases in the racks.
"First Law of Leftist Debate
The more you present a leftist with factual evidence
that is counter to his preconceived world view and the
more difficult it becomes for him to refute it without
losing face the chance of him calling you a racist, bigot,
homophobe approaches infinity.
This is despite the thread you are in having not mentioned
race or sexual preference in any way that is relevant to
the subject." Grey Ghost
rangerssuck
> On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:37:39 -0700, "Steve B"
>
And flat broke, too.
Big Ben
> You need 10% or less Co2 for spray transfer, or so I was told.
>
yep...like I said, I've used C10 (90% Argon/10%CO2) for spray transfer
welding....been a while tho'
had two identical Millers in the shop...both had their "favorite"
settings that worked right for spraying, but could be approximated as
"really HOT and really FAST"....had to swap to an .045 tip to reliably
spray with .035 wire, something about the magic way that copper has of
shrinking when heated...
I used to build water tenders...
a basic 20 foot "A" model tank set for duallies (about 2000 gallons)
had about 80 feet of spray transfer weld applied to inside seams
a "B" model with similar dimensions would require about 56 feet of
same
eyes sure would be tired after a day of spraying
--
Big Ben
BS266
the "feelin' gritty just thinkin' about it" Slug
Steve B
"Gunner Asch" <gunne...@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:956ks5hk4dmha3hnr...@4ax.com...
> On Sat, 17 Apr 2010 06:37:39 -0700, "Steve B"
> <desertt...@dishynail.net> wrote:
>
>>I just put an ad for a CO2 bottle on craigslist. I own a waist high
>>argon/CO2, but the cost for refilling is quite a lot more than CO2. The
>>mix
>>gives a better weld with slightly less spatter, but other than that, is it
>>worth all the extra money?
>>
>>What do you use, and why?
>>
>>Steve
>>
> 99% of my mig welding is with CO2 only.
>
> Its hotter then argon..so a smaller machine makes a deeper weld, but it
> does tend to splatter a bit more than 75/25 and is not as "pretty" a
> weld..which is subjective of course. Particularly under a coat of paint.
>
> Since most of my welding is rough welding..a fast pass with a good stiff
> wire wheel takes off the splatter.
>
> And CO2 is VERY inexpensive and lasts and lasts. Something like 35% of
> the cost of argon, with about 800% or more...or more of the amount of
> available gas in the bottle.
>
> I have 127 cf bottle of Tri-mix out there as well. REALLY a hot arc and
> the wire SCREAMS out of the gun.
>
> Then Ive got probably 500 cf of pure argon, for TIG.
>
> Gunner, with 11 bottles of various gases in the racks.
>
>
I started off in 1980 with a new MillerMatic 200 and a chop saw, grinder,
and a BIG bottle of CO2. I welded for years never knowing that there was a
mixed gas for MIG. Then I got into different things, and had a call to do
about 500 footrests for slot machine stools. They wanted them VERY pretty,
and convinced me to get the mixed gas. The cost of the job paid for more
than the bottle, so I tried it. Actually, it does produce a prettier weld,
a narrower bead, and less spatter, but not all that great for the cost.
IIRC, just a pass with a cup knot brush, and it was clean of spatter. The
spatter did stick pretty good, but not so much that the brush didn't knock
it off.
It's just time to go get some gas, and the guy told me he'd make me a deal
on my owner tank, which I bought from him, in exchange for a CO2 tank and
regulator. Plus, the CO2 can be filled in the little town I live in, rather
than driving a 60 mile round trip to go to the city.
But, hell, if I find a cheap CO2 tank, I'll probably end up with two. A guy
can't have too many tools, even if you only use if once a presidency.
Steve
Steve B
"Big Ben" <XNavySn...@aol.com> wrote
> "really HOT and really FAST"....had to swap to an .045 tip to reliably
> spray with .035 wire, something about the magic way that copper has of
> shrinking when heated...
With my MillerMatic 200, I finally used .045 liners exclusively for .035
wire, as they did not clog up nearly as fast. Those 12' Tweco liners were a
bit spendy. I did not notice any difference in performance, and I welded
with that welder for 14 years.
Steve