Argon Regulator Query

[Richard.]

I set my mig at about 8lpm on the reg mounted ball gauge for 'general' use. Could back that off a bit if I ever do anything indoors, and anything up to 14lpm if it's breezy.

One day, I may get a handheld peashooter to see what that reckons.

Those sound like ideal figures for a Mig set up.

 

[PTvor]

For Mig 10lpm is adequate for tig it's a sheer waste of gas unless your shielding cup is 1 inch diameter.
I use a basic lens set up. Nothing fancy and I'm at 5lpm for most stuff.

Yes, I was thinking of MIG.

If you have no idea what the gas flow is or you are relying on the gauge on the regulator you can waste an awful lot of gas and money.

If you have a fairly accurate measure of what the flow rate is via a ball in tube type flowmeter, you can set it to 10 lpm which is good enough for most things, or tune it down. If you can get away with 8 lpm rather than 10 lpm your gas lasts 25% longer.

 

[Richard.]

This is my set up which although costs a small fortune as a one off payment has bought itself back more than a few times simply on gas savings. It's a multistage reg with a decent set of flow tubes that read reasonably accurate (with in half lpm from my peashooter) I'm not gonna go into the debate of which is more accurate this or my pea shooter as neither are calibrated and both are close enough to each other. But these are a worthy investment as over time they do save you a lot of gas usage when taking pressure rises and start up surges given from a single stage type.

 

[Richard.]

That's your dual outlet setup?

The far left tube is my purge line the right tube is main gas flow. The main flow is adjusted on the big hand wheel and the purge on the small valve far left. They do build them in an odd fashion compared to conventional type. Most of the time I'm running only off the right side tube unless I'm doing some full pen stainless then I'll set up a 2nd feed from the left tube.

 

[Richard.]

That looks like a dual 'wheel' on the front too?

Certainly a baffling setup, I wouldn't like to have been tasked with designing the drilling jig for the passages

It's not a dual wheel on the front it's just got a recess machined out of it. It's all one piece. Hand wheel is aluminium. They are nice things that work well. I'm on my second now and I'll keep replacing them with the same type until I find a better one.

 

[koicarpuk]

[QUI'm new to this cN E="Andre Bohomme, post: 782185, member: 27230"]How do you deal with regulators where the flow rate alters with the pressure in the tank?

I have a wescol argon regulator which I put it on a brand new 9L hobbyweld bottle today and its now under half full. I checked it when I started getting bubbles during a weld to find that the pressure had dropped by half and the flow had more than doubled.

To adjust the flow, I open the gas bottle valve a little bit, press the welder purge button and then adjust the regulator valve until I get about 10cfm. The strange thing is when the welder is idle (and is not purging), the flow rate valve still shows a flow rate even thought there is no gas being used - I cannot hear any gas leaks!! Is this normal for regulators to do this?

So, how do you deal with a drop in pressure effecting the flow rate? Is it normal to keep having to check because as the pressure drops and the flow increases, it empties the tank quite quickly.[/QUOTE]
Hi im new to ths and can't work out how to start a new topic can anyone help please thanks koicarpuk

 

[Brad93]

Its normal with a single stage regulator, no doubt someone can explain better than me but as pressure decreases the amount of flow you receive will change. Using an add on flowmeter to keep an eye on will help.

 

[Brad93]

Rightly or wrongly, we are specced to use 15lpm through an MB25 at work. At least there is a much reduced chance of nitrogen embrittlement if you run slightly more gas than needed.

 

[backpurge]

Rightly or wrongly, we are specced to use 15lpm through an MB25 at work. At least there is a much reduced chance of nitrogen embrittlement if you run slightly more gas than needed.

You are dead right there, probably not an issue with a lot of DIY type jobs but definitely something to be aware of with larger commercial fabrications

 

[mike 109444]

[QUI'm new to this cN E="Andre Bohomme, post: 782185, member: 27230"]How do you deal with regulators where the flow rate alters with the pressure in the tank?

I have a wescol argon regulator which I put it on a brand new 9L hobbyweld bottle today and its now under half full. I checked it when I started getting bubbles during a weld to find that the pressure had dropped by half and the flow had more than doubled.

To adjust the flow, I open the gas bottle valve a little bit, press the welder purge button and then adjust the regulator valve until I get about 10cfm. The strange thing is when the welder is idle (and is not purging), the flow rate valve still shows a flow rate even thought there is no gas being used - I cannot hear any gas leaks!! Is this normal for regulators to do this?

So, how do you deal with a drop in pressure effecting the flow rate? Is it normal to keep having to check because as the pressure drops and the flow increases, it empties the tank quite quickly.

Hi im new to ths and can't work out how to start a new topic can anyone help please thanks koicarpuk[/QUOTE]
Think the other guys miss your question.
If you go into the section you want to post in say Shielding Gas and Regulators
Then look at the bottom right of the page. See attached pic
and welcome BTW