MIG welding gas pressure

Tue, 31 Aug 2021 17:00:08 GMT

go to see Welding Machine for MIG gas pressure

I'm a newbie and curious how to know when I need more or less pressure on my MIG welding setup. I have a Lincoln SP135 with regulator and argon75 tank welding on mild steel. So far so good it just seems like I'm going through the gas quickly...
Reply:Originally Posted by spiwrxI'm a newbie and curious how to know when I need more or less pressure on my MIG welding setup. I have a Lincoln SP135 with regulator and argon75 tank welding on mild steel. So far so good it just seems like I'm going through the gas quickly...
Reply:Good question, I was going to post same exact question. I get my mig on Thursday and I'd like to know as much info as well.
Replyo you have a flowmeter?  Normally you control the volume flow, not the pressure.  For a given setup, equipment, and environment you want a certain flow rate as indicated by a floating ball flowmeter.  The pressure regulator acts to bring the high pressure in the cylinder down to a moderate pressure that the flowmeter is designed to handle, then you use the needle valve in the flowmeter to adjust the flow rate (in liters or cubic feet per hour) to the desired value based upon recommendations in books and from advisors to start with, then based upon your experience with your technique, equipment, and environment (i.e., indoors, outdoors, breeze, etc.).  In the absence of a flowmeter, you have no idea how much gas you are supplying to the torch.awright
Reply:I just have the basic gauges that came with my welder, I'd assumed it was tank pressure and pressure at the gun it doesn't really say anything except a scale from 0 to about 35. So I guess thats considered the flow meter. I have been running at 20 and sometimes higher. I was just curious how low I could go to use as little gas as possible??? Do you know what signs I could expect to see in my beads or work from to little or to much gas???
Replyne thing to look for is bubbles/air pockets in the bead.  If you start seeing little pin holes, you need more gas.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:What you have is a low pressure guage calibrated in cubic ft. per hour.  Since it is a pressure gauge the reading is really only an approximation of actual gas flow.  I would try it around 15 and see if you weld are acceptable.  Just keep lowering the reading until you start to get porosity and then crank in a couple of more cfh and you should be good to go.  Just curious what size bottle are you using?  One other thing is to check your fittings and make sure your not leaking gas. Also be sure to open the bottle valve all the way.  Those high pressure valves seal only when fully open and fully closed.  You also want to close the valve fully when you are not welding otherwise a small leak will drain your bottle.DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:Spray soapy water on all your fittings. If you have a leak it will blow bubbles. Ought to have a dedicated spray bottle hanging close. Use it every time you change bottles.
Reply:Yup, ever since I was little fixing bike tires I've stored a spray bottle with water and soap
Reply:Spiwrx, what size is your gas cylinder? You may want to look into a gas saver product that goes inline between your argon outlet end of the hose and your welder. I believe Harris Calorific sells them to help you save on excessive use of gas.MJ
Reply:Since we are all on the subject of regulators and such, I bought a used Lincoln Power Mig 255C and it has no gauges with it.  I'm not sure what I need to get.  I looked at the Lincoln adjustable gas regulator kit #K586-1  Would this do the trick or do I need a kit that has a flowmeter.  It's all greek to me, as you know i'm new and green to all this.  As always I sincerly appreciate all your help.  Thanks!!!
Reply:It doesn't have to be a real flowmeter (the floating ball,) but those are nice, especially on bigger, nicer MIGs like yours.  If you get one with a calibrated flowgauge, you might have to make sure that its stated orifice is the correct size for your machine.What gas do you plan on running through it?
Reply:Well not really knowing much about it since i am so green I was thinking about running Argon/CO2 75/25 mix.  What do you think?  Also I'm a DeWalt lover too!!  My shop is all black and yellow.  DeWalt RULES all others drule...hehehe  Thanks MAC702 I appreciate the info...Oh almost forgot, if I decided to go with a calibrated flowgauge would you have any suggestions as to what brand or make to go with?  I was looking at a Harris 355-2 flowmeter regulator but not knowing very much about all this stuff I wasn't sure if this is even what I would need.  Again, I sincerly appreciate all the great info.  Thanks sooooo much!!!Last edited by iroc; 04-30-2006 at 09:28 PM.
Reply:I really don't think it matters much.  I have several cheap Smiths because they came will my Millers and my Hobart.  I also have a little Italian one that also works well.  A basic inexpensive one should give you trouble-free service.That's an ideal gas mix for doing short-circuit GMAW.  Your machine is also capable of so much more.I have C-25, C-16, C-3, Argon, and 100% CO2 all available for my MIGs so that they can do pretty much anything.If you weld many things over 1/4" in-position, you'll love spray transfer with a higher argon mix like C-10 through C-2 or even a 98Ar/2O2
Reply:Most of my welding will be up to 1/8" for now until I get a feel for it.  I will only be doing little stuff like mufflers, little things that break on riding mowers, things of that nature.  The metal will be somewhat dirty and sometimes rust.  Would you say the 75/25 mix with the FCAW process and .o30 Lincoln Innershield wire would do the trick?  Man I have a lot to learn, but the nice thing is that I have an ace in the hole like you to keep me straight.  Again I sincerly appreciate all your great help.  Thanks!!!
Reply:Originally Posted by irocWould you say the 75/25 mix with the FCAW process and .o30 Lincoln Innershield wire would do the trick?
Reply:OK thanks!!!! I was trying to practice some gas welding today and the barrel of my tourch got so hot within 5 min. I could not hold onto it any more.  Does this mean I have a leak or maybe a bad o-ring?  I don't know how it works but it never got hot like that before.  Thank you for the help again.
Reply:Originally Posted by irocOK thanks!!!! I was trying to practice some gas welding today and the barrel of my tourch got so hot within 5 min. I could not hold onto it any more.  Does this mean I have a leak or maybe a bad o-ring?  I don't know how it works but it never got hot like that before.  Thank you for the help again.
Reply:I was gas welding with oxygen & aceylene with a #6 and the barrel (the part you hold onto) became very hot within a few min.  Usually it takes awhile before it gets hot enough where you can't hold onto it but now within a few min it's extreamly hot.  Thanks for the help...
Reply:If i'm mig welding dirty steel (rust & scale) and I use FCAW and I use an innershield wire, do I use C-25 with that?  Thanks again!!!
Reply:If that's a victor #6 , i'm thinkin that's a big (BIG)  tip and it should put out a LOT of heat normally . i don't think i ever used any bigger than a victor #3 gas welding tip , -If we're on the same wavelength
ReplyON"T use a wire feeder or "MIG"   to weld dirty steel, yer askin  for trouble , sorry . i think if you have to weld dirty stuff, bite the bullet &use 6010 5p (dc)But, i know that's NOT what you want to hear .
Reply:OK thank you for the info I appreciate it.  Is 6010 a deep pentrating rod?  Just was wondering because most of the things I will be welding are thin like 1/16" or 1/8" thats why I was considering mig.  Remember I'm green to all this I am just learning.  I really do appreciate your help.  Thanks!!!Last edited by iroc; 05-05-2006 at 10:08 AM.
Reply:6010 would be one of the hardest sticks for that work, but still doable.  6013 (which I'm not a big fan of) of 7018 works better, IMO.  Wirefeeders are better, GMAW best, but FCAW okay.  FCAW if you can't get the steel clean.
Reply:Iroc : 6010  is about the deepest penetrating rod there is , by far (i am talking about stick rod) But I hate the stuff . It splatters like H*ll , throws dingle berries from here to eternity -it's used for roots in pipe welding ,sometimes the complete weld in pipe welding . It'll probably be here , untill judgement day, i think it's God's & Lincolns punishment  for mankindAs always thanks for the help I appreciate it.  A couple of questions:  Are some brands better than other ones when it comes to wire for the mig?  Would a Lincoln kit #K586-1 adjustable gas regulator be ok to use on my Lincoln Power Mig 255C?  Thanks guys soooo much for the help.
Reply:Originally Posted by irocI was gas welding with oxygen & aceylene with a #6 and the barrel (the part you hold onto) became very hot within a few min.  Usually it takes awhile before it gets hot enough where you can't hold onto it but now within a few min it's extreamly hot.  Thanks for the help...
Reply:according to lincolns  poop sheet, that's what it is for, but, if you can, before you buy , try to see a   Koike   Accu-flow meter at a welding supply dealer. They are just about fool proof , and dead accurate , i use them for argon &    CO2- they are similar density , as upposed to helium which is ABOUT 10% as dense as argon .
Reply:Thanks for the info, I will check the Koike Accu-flow meter out.  Just was wondering, do they have anything out there to weld cast, with a mig welder?  Thank you!!!
Reply:thanks to everibody, especially to smithboy for the imformation about RINGROLLER. I have the pictures nowI will post some pictures when I get the tool madeFor MAC702gracias a todos, especialmente al chico smith por la imformacion acerca de  laroladora de anillos. ya tengo las fotografias.enviare algunas fotografias cuando tenga la herramienta hechaIf anybody needs to translate something maybe I can helpSi alguien necesita traducir algo posiblemente yo puedo ayudarAtentamente:Juan Carlos.P.D.HERREROerson that makes things of iron(hierro) SOLDADOR:welderSOLDADO(without the R at the  end):soldier
Reply:I run mine at 3-5 cfh...no issue with nice clean welds.