How air-tight should a welding gas system be?

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In other words, if I pressurize the system, then close the valve on top of the cylinder, then come back an hour later, how much drop should there be? I ask because my system welds just fine, but I do lose about 50 psi over the course of 30-60 minutes. I just now realized that means that means my cylinder would totally empty in 40 hours, even if I never opened the solenoid. I'm trying to figure out if that's just how these gas systems work, or if I should be doing more to try to seal the system up, even though it welds okay.Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:If anybody else out there would like to run this experiment and post their results, I'd be interested...Everlast PA160-STH... and that's about it!
Reply:Well, any leak would mean it's also leaking in between welds - so you are losing money.  Mine leaks through the gas solenoid (it's 45 years old though) and I just have not replaced it.Remember though, when you shut off your tank, bleed down your system and release the spring pressure on your regulator (if you have that style).Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:Originally Posted by MinnesotaDaveWell, any leak would mean it's also leaking in between welds - so you are losing money.
Reply:I checked my system over and found the problem.  That gives me piece of mind that I didn't just leave a fitting loose.  Now it's just a matter of when it bothers me enough to fix it.I would recommend you at least figure out what is causing it - then you won't worry anymore even if you don't fix it Dave J.Dave J.Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance. ~George Bernard Shaw~ Syncro 350Invertec v250-sThermal Arc 161 and 300MM210DialarcTried being normal once, didn't take....I think it was a Tuesday.
Reply:You have a leak.  Your compressed gas system should not leak any more than your refrigerator leaks refrigerant.Bleeding down the system and releasing pressure off the regulators when not in use for extended periods, like overnight, is just a matter of good shop practice and preventive maintenence.  But if you are noticing a loss of pressure in only 30 to 60 minutes then you have a leak.Test all the joints and connections with an appropriate leak-testing liquid such as Snoop. You can use soapy water made from liquid dish detergent and water, spritzer it on and watch for growing bubbles.   Be sure to throughly rinse and remove the soap when you are done; especially if you use dish detergent as most dish detergents contain oxidizers which will attack fittings made from steel or copper alloys such as brass, if left behind.- MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.
Reply:I noticed on my setup I have valve on my torch and sometimes I can come back the next day and its still pressured up, other times its 30-120mins and the pressures gone, I close the valve on the tank and fully back the regulator out, so I know my leak is a sealing issue with the torch valve, but its not consistently happening so I wonder if it has to do with the heat build up and expansion like if I do higher amp welds for a lil longer and then close the valve, when it cools now the metal has shrank and lets the gas in the hose weep by.....my machine doesn't have a tig valve just a mig valve, but I do use my tig setup on my IdealArc 250 without a hi freq box which contain a solenoidMiller Syncrowave 210 w/CK FlexLoc 150  3/6/14ESAB PCM 1125 Plasma CutterAtlas 12x36 LatheACER 9x42 3hp millHarig 612 Surface GrinderDRINK Machine              welding&fabrication
Reply:OH CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GEEZMY STINKIN O/A SETUP WILL BLEED DOWN AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES DEPENDING ON THE BOTTLE I GET FROM THE LWSNot a thing you can do about this, it's the seats on your bottleTURN THE STUPID THING OFF WHEN IT'S NOT IN USE.  CLOSE THE STUPID VALVE AT THE BOTTLE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Nothing personal, I'm in a real rotten mood"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammNothing personal, I'm in a real rotten mood
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammNothing personal, I'm in a real rotten mood