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Mig experts...best gas?

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by movingviolation, Apr 7, 2012.

  1. movingviolation
    Joined: Feb 19, 2005
    Posts: 1,177

    movingviolation
    Member

    Just emptied a bottle of almig gas and wonder what people feel is the best gas to use with mig welders?


    thanks
    Leon
     
  2. Mr 42
    Joined: Mar 27, 2003
    Posts: 1,215

    Mr 42
    Member
    from Sweden

    I use C02 from a Fire extinguisher, that have had the internal tube cut off so it get the gas from the top, otherwise you need to use it upside down.

    Its the cheapest gas you can get, 20$ for a refill.

    I cant see any differance from Mison gas that i used before, that was 70$ to fill + rent for the tube.
     
  3. Hi, Leon.

    I just use straight CO2. I also use nothing but copper coated wire. It keeps it from rusting on the spool. I've seen guys battle 'gas' problems, never realizing that their wire had a fine coat of rust on it. A little shot of WD-40 right on the spool doesn't hurt either. Clothespin a rag onto the wire where it goes into the feed rollers to wipe it.
    If the wire is clean, CO2 will work for most anything.

    I was given a bottle of fire extinguisher gas by mistake. It looked like a regular welding bottle, but was intended as a propellant for a restaurant range hood extinguisher. It froze my flow meter on the inside and started spitting ice and water into my welds. I was pretty perplexed until I saw the Popsicle on top of my gas bottle. I've never heard of using a modified extinguisher, itself. Pretty cool idea if it works ok.

    JOE:cool:
     
  4. jmpowie
    Joined: Dec 2, 2006
    Posts: 202

    jmpowie
    Member

    I use argon/co2 mix for steel, straight argon for alum.
     

  5. willowbilly3
    Joined: Jun 18, 2004
    Posts: 4,356

    willowbilly3
    Member Emeritus
    from Sturgis

    I use 75/25 too, never like the splattering of straight CO2. Of course straight argon for aluminum
     
  6. Deuce Daddy Don
    Joined: Apr 27, 2008
    Posts: 5,544

    Deuce Daddy Don
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    YEP!---co2 is the cheapest all around----Argon for more precision.
     
  7. YocumBros.
    Joined: Apr 28, 2010
    Posts: 47

    YocumBros.
    Member
    from Raleigh NC


    This is the best way to go for quality results.
     
  8. PinHead
    Joined: Jun 3, 2005
    Posts: 243

    PinHead
    Member

    Straight CO2 is supposed to have better penetration than an argon mix, but your welds won't look as nice. I've never used it before, but it sounds kind of interesting if you do a lot of butt welds on sheetmetal, since they get ground flush anyways.
     
  9. Hotrodbuilderny
    Joined: Mar 20, 2009
    Posts: 1,646

    Hotrodbuilderny
    Member

    75/25 if I care, straight co2 if I don't,like on a driver quality chassis repair, etc.
     
  10. fleet-master
    Joined: Sep 29, 2010
    Posts: 1,780

    fleet-master
    Member

    CO2 is usually a hotter weld, hence possibly better weld penetration, argon is a smoother and prettier weld. I used CO2 (on steel) for many years with no problems.I have a converted fire extinguisher bottle...no rental fees!
     
  11. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member

    Co2 for over 30 years with the same Miller 35.
     
  12. Hotrodbuilderny
    Joined: Mar 20, 2009
    Posts: 1,646

    Hotrodbuilderny
    Member

    I've still got my Miller 35, around the same amount of time, use it all the time. No issues ever, great machine.
     
  13. Retro Jim
    Joined: May 27, 2007
    Posts: 3,854

    Retro Jim
    Member

    75/25 argon mix . You will never go wrong with that !

    Retro Jim
     
  14. yetiskustoms
    Joined: May 22, 2009
    Posts: 1,932

    yetiskustoms
    Member

    75/25 argon mix. Safe bet. Works great
     
  15. Pete1
    Joined: Aug 23, 2004
    Posts: 2,253

    Pete1
    Member
    from Wa.

    Straight Co2 for structural steel where you need 100% penetration,
    75/25 for other stuff..less clean up,
    straight argon for aluminum and mag.
     
  16. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Good lord, where do these guys come up with this crap. :rolleyes: The wire is NOT copper coated to prevent rust :rolleyes: It is that way for better electrical conductivity at the contact tip.

    And only an idiot would spray something like WD40 on the wire.

    The best gas by far to use is the C25 mix, 75 % Argon and 25% CO2.
     
  17. Cali4niaCruiser
    Joined: Aug 30, 2005
    Posts: 599

    Cali4niaCruiser
    Member

    Ditto... 75/25
     
  18. Great info ,I have a MIG sitting around doing nothing as rental and bottle prices are now bullshit in OZ , I will be giving the fire extinguiser a go ..
     
  19. John 79
    Joined: Aug 13, 2006
    Posts: 985

    John 79
    Member
    from Sweden

    I work as a welder at a company that makes hydraulic cylinders and the most common gas is a what we call Mison 18.
    Its 18% argon and 82% Co2,

    So all you 25/75 guys,its 75% Co2 and 25% argon not the other way around.
     
  20. F&J
    Joined: Apr 5, 2007
    Posts: 13,222

    F&J
    Member


    Take a look in the Model 35 wire compartment, on the inside of that door; there should be a Miller Chart showing "which gas mix to use, for whatever wire size/& heat setting".."for good-better-best welds".

    On that chart, Argon mix is not needed on most stuff we do, to get best welds.
     
  21. 75/25 here.
     
  22. Hackerbilt
    Joined: Aug 13, 2001
    Posts: 6,254

    Hackerbilt
    Member

    Considering the huge price difference up this way...I'm not a good enough welder to worry about the difference in visual weld "quality" by using mix!
    The grinder disc doesn't seem to notice the difference anyway. :p

    I'm a HACKER after all...LOL
     
  23. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Last edited: Apr 8, 2012
  24. I use CO2 for 90% of my welds with no problems. I do have a 20lb. bottle of 75/25 that I use once in a while.

    Lee
     

  25. And everybody says, "Hey, Joe, how come we don't see you on the H.A.M.B. anymore?"

    Did I say the copper was there specifically to keep it from rusting? No. It just happens to be a benefit I picked up on over bare wire after nearly 40 years as a professional welder.

    Leon also lives in the north, where temperatures fluctuate, and he's also on an island. I've never been there but I imagine a little humidity. WD-40 doesn't hurt one thing, a light mist on the spool and a wiping rag as it leaves the welder and you won't notice a thing. Only an idiot would let a $75 spool sit and rust and then try to get any good welds from it.

    See you guys in a couple more years...

    JOE:cool:
     
  26. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    I edited your comments to leave anything of value that you posted. :p

    You can't buy non copper coated solid MIG welding wire.

    If you know what google is then perhaps you should use it :D
     
  27. Don's Hot Rods
    Joined: Oct 7, 2005
    Posts: 8,319

    Don's Hot Rods
    Member
    from florida

    If you guys get so riled up about mig gas, makes me wonder how you handle the serious stuff in life :rolleyes: Jezz guys, is another guy's opinion that worthless that you have to jump in his s*** over it ?

    We use 75/25, for what it is worth.:)

    Don
     
  28. gimpyshotrods
    Joined: May 20, 2009
    Posts: 23,264

    gimpyshotrods
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    75/25 Argon/CO2 is the best balance. Your supply house may have a name for it like C25, Stargold, etc. I have emptied over 250 K-bottles of C25 in the last 10-years.

    Nothing in the automotive world requires the "extra" penetration afforded by straight CO2, unless you are using the wrong process, the wrong machine, or both. All you get is more spatter.

    NEVER spray anything on the spool, unless you are a fan of contaminating your welds. Get caught doing that in the real world, and you are likely to have all of the welds you have done called into questioned, if not outright failed by an inspector.

    How do I know? I have been called in, TWICE, to grind out and re-weld extensive jobs (10+ days, each), where the "pro" lubricated the spool. Just don't.
     

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