What Regulator/Gauge setup for Synchrowave 250 TIG?

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Ok, i need a regulator and gauge setup for my new Synchrowave 250.I have the floating ball flow meter thing, but i need the regulator that screws into the Argon tank.I looked quick on ebay but im unsure which one to buy and havent seen any used ones.What brands should i avoid? I'd like to find an inexpensive one if possible. Is there someone on the forum that sells them?Thanks everyone!
Reply:Got picts of what you already have? The floating ball units are the most accurate, but a decent  "gauge style" one will work just fine for most people and usually cost less money. I want to say the last "gauge style" one I bought cost me roughly $45 or so from the LWS when one of the guys where I used to work dropped something heavy on mine and smashed it flat while it was off the cylinder. I want to say it was a Smith unit..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by bluchevOk, i need a regulator and gauge setup for my new Synchrowave 250.I have the floating ball flow meter thing, but i need the regulator that screws into the Argon tank.I looked quick on ebay but im unsure which one to buy and havent seen any used ones.What brands should i avoid? I'd like to find an inexpensive one if possible. Is there someone on the forum that sells them?Thanks everyone!
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWGot picts of what you already have? The floating ball units are the most accurate, but a decent  "gauge style" one will work just fine for most people and usually cost less money. I want to say the last "gauge style" one I bought cost me roughly $45 or so from the LWS when one of the guys where I used to work dropped something heavy on mine and smashed it flat while it was off the cylinder. I want to say it was a Smith unit.
Reply:I haven't seen an arrangement quite like that. All the floating ball types I've seen are attached direct to the reg. You control the flow direct at the reg..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ill post some pictures of what i have tomorrow when i get home.Could you post a link or a picture of what i need?
Reply:I don't know what would work with what you have now. Any of these "should" work, assuming you don't have issues with whatever fittings they used on what you have.http://store.cyberweld.com/smflreh2.htmlhttp://store.cyberweld.com/smflreh1.htmlhttp://store.cyberweld.com/meaf150fl.htmlhttp://store.cyberweld.com/mehrf14refl.htmlhttp://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=7950http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=7916http://www.weldingsuppliesfromioc.co...owmeter/DetailI could probably dig out more of the same, but you probably get the idea..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ok ,perfect. Thats clears that up for me. I was under the impression that you needed the dual gauge setup and the flowmeter.Thanks!Any brand i should avoid?
Reply:One thing about regulators is that they do go bad - depending where and how you store them etc.  When they do go bad, a quality brand like Victor is easily rebuildable.That being said, Victor regulators command a premium.For TIG welding, this is what I have:  Its a Smith, decent quality and about 1/2-2/3 of the victor equivalent:https://weldingsupply.com/cgi-bin/ei...EF:X:33-50-580The second output is for purging/backpurging when working on stainless.You could instead buy two singles (and two bottles).  Saw this price:https://weldingsupply.com/cgi-bin/ei...:X:32-80-580-6As for flowmeter vs. flowgauge.  Both could work.  However, understand that a flow gauge is really just a calibrated pressure gauge.  It measures pressure drop accros a known size oriface.  It -assumes- there is little or no pressure on the outlet side.  On the plus side, you can set it up without having the gas actually flowing.  Keep notes on what settings work with what cups.Flowmeters aren't perfect either, but keep in mind this isn't brain surgery.  There is a broad range of gas flows that will work.  In this case, good enough is in fact good.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Originally Posted by bluchevOk ,perfect. Thats clears that up for me. I was under the impression that you needed the dual gauge setup and the flowmeter.
Reply:It has about 20 ft of green hose attached to the flow meter. Im assuming it was hooked up to a manifold of some sort since this machine was used in a shop. I need  to the on/off valve that screws into the tank then i could run my green hose up to that and then just use my flowmeter.
Reply:Green hose says low pressure system to me. All the high pressure systems I've worked with either had hard lines or short lengths of steel braided hose for the HP attachments.Sounds like just about any pressure reducing reg would work if it is set up for CGA580 ( inert gas), but I have no idea what you would need to set the output pressure for without info on the flow meter..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ok heres what i have. Its a Victor
Reply:Definitely  set up for low pressure use. Any model numbers on the unit? From what I can see, you should be able to get any of those flow meters linked above and make them work if you add a hose with the correct ends..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWDefinitely  set up for low pressure use. Any model numbers on the unit? From what I can see, you should be able to get any of those flow meters linked above and make them work if you add a hose with the correct ends.
Reply:You need something to regulate the high pressure in the tank into something lower AND a means to regulate flow.  It looks like you have a Victor FM series flow meter, which are generally fed with gas at 25 PSI from a separate high pressure regulator on a tank.  It is a flow meter only, not a regulator.Victor also has models that are regulators and flow meters in one, such as the HRF and HSR.  These gave a small dial gauge in addition to the flow tube.Here's a link to the HTP regulator.  $35. isn't bad and sometimes you can get the same one for a bit less on eBay from the same seller.  They go by the name "USAWELD". http://www.ebay.com/itm/HTP-Argon-CO...item20b74c4d3chttp://www.usaweld.com/Welding-Flowmeter-p/12020-f.htm"USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by OldendumYou need something to regulate the high pressure in the tank into something lower AND a means to regulate flow.  It looks like you have a Victor FM series flow meter, which are generally fed with gas at 25 PSI from a separate high pressure regulator on a tank.  It is a flow meter only, not a regulator.Victor also has models that are regulators and flow meters in one, such as the HRF and HSR.  These gave a small dial gauge in addition to the flow tube.Here's a link to the HTP regulator.  $35. isn't bad and sometimes you can get the same one for a bit less on eBay from the same seller.  They go by the name "USAWELD". http://www.ebay.com/itm/HTP-Argon-CO...item20b74c4d3chttp://www.usaweld.com/Welding-Flowmeter-p/12020-f.htm
Reply:Low pressure use means it was set up for use with a low pressure manifold. In an industrial setting often places will get "gas" in bulk.  Some times this is a bunch of gas cylinders all hooked up together as a bank and connected to a regulator that drops the high pressure gas down to a lower intermediate pressure, where it is then adjusted at the individual machine. Other times it can come in as a dewar in liquid form, then it is "boiled" off and the resulting gas flows to the machines. I can't remember if gas from a dewar needs to be pressure regulated or not as I hardly ever worked with gas in that format, and when I did, I always dealt with the "end" product. It really doesn't matter though, the end result is the same, the machine is fed a low pressure gas supply vs a typical gas cylinder that contains high pressure gas.The "problem" with your flow meter is that it lacks the pressure reducing portion of the system from what I can tell. By "problem" I mean you need some way to regulate the high pressure gas down to a pressure the flow meter can work with. What that intermediate pressure is, I have no clue, but you can probably look it up with the model number off the flow meter.The flow meters I listed earlier do both. They step down the pressure from the cylinder and allow you to adjust the flow of gas. These will not work in conjunction with what you have currently, but will work in place of it. These are designed to connect direct to the high pressure cylinder and provide gas to the machine at a set flow rate. No other equipment is needed ( except of course the hose)To make what you have work, you need a regulator, not a flow meter. There is a difference. A regulator like for say O2, puts out a constant pressure. A flow meter puts out a constant volume of gas. I have a few old O2 regs that would probably work with what you have, if you changed over the gas fitting for the cylinder. Problem is I have no idea what the pressure needs to be set at to get the flow meter to put out the correct volume of gas as listed on the sight glass. I'd also have to get one of the flow checkers to be able to verify what the flow was, and adjust the input pressure  as required. All this is overly complicating a simple thing. The only reason I'd go this route is if you already have a suitable reg you are not using. ( I've got a couple of "questionable" O2 regs I've picked up as yard sale finds for conversion to high pressure air) Otherwise it's just not practical or cost effective.If you simply went and got a flow meter and hose assembly like this one, you would have everything you need. ( I can't remember if one of the other links I posted up before had the hose with it or not. Most were strictly the flow meter and you'd have to add the hose to the flow meter.)http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...oducts_id=7920.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Ok, I just ordered this onehttp://www.ebay.com/itm/HTP-Argon-CO...item20b74c4d3cIt doesnt come with a hose, so im assuming the green hose i have will not work and ill have to pick up a different hose like the one in your last link?
Reply:Here's a Victor for $50., $59. with hose.  Don't know what they want for shipping.http://www.aocweldingsupply.com/vict...co2-0781-2723/http://www.aocweldingsupply.com/vict...co2-0781-2743/Edit:  You may be able to make the green hose work.  What is on the other end?Last edited by Oldendum; 03-03-2013 at 09:21 AM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Looks like the one you ordered from HTP comes with a barbed hose fitting, possibly similar to the one I believe is on the outlet side of your current flow meter. The only issue would be if the hose size you have is different than what the hose barb is set up for. I'd bet I could make what you have work, even if I had to simply cut off your existing hose and connect it to the new hose barb with an adapter and a short length of the correct size hose. Most home supply stores have a selection of hose barbs and adapters in the plumbing section or in hardware with the air tools.I missed that HTP searching last night. That looks like a good inexpensive choice. I'd probably go that route myself if I needed a 2nd flow meter, and I may just say that link for when I need one for my Maxstar vs stealing the one off my Syncrowave when needed..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:pretty much always used a Ball type reg.  BUT.......in a pinch you could use just about any reg. as long as it could handle the high pressure side?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:So since i will essentially have two flow meters, could i just run a Y fitting off the initial flow meter and run a line to the other meter so i could be set up for back purging?
Reply:Maybe. You'd need to find a Y that would fit the inlet on both flow meters though. Most dual flow meters I've seen come off a 2nd LP port on the reg portion rather than the same LP port. That would also assume both will run at the same intermediate pressure..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:You could.If I've got it right... You'd set your new meter at the tank to about 25cfm then set the original meter to your welding cfm (15ish).  The difference would be available for purging.But honestly, back purging wouldn't be high on my list just starting out.  Most times I need to purge something I just turn up the post flow, tap the contactor and flow some gas where it needs to be.Syncrowave 300Maxtron 450, S-52E, 30ALooks like i wont see my new regulator until Thursday, can i just steal the regulator off my mig welder for the time being so i can get started? The pressure gauge goes to 4000 psi on it
Reply:yes you canSyncrowave 300Maxtron 450, S-52E, 30A
Reply:Yes, you should be able to use your MIG welder reg.  And when you do get that new reg/flow meter, you only need that, not that and the old meter that is on there.  Save that old meter in case you have to do a back-purge setup for stainless steel TIG or something like that in the future.Edit:  rereading this thread... don't confuse the poor guy about needing dual flow meters/regs or anything.  Just because someone fastened that thing on there doesn't mean it was original equipment.  Ditch the old flow meter and use the reg/flow meter in it's place on the tank.Last edited by Oldendum; 03-03-2013 at 07:42 PM."USMCPOP" First-born son: KIA  Iraq 1/26/05Syncrowave 250 w/ Coolmate 3Dialarc 250, Idealarc 250SP-175 +Firepower TIG 160S (gave the TA 161 STL to the son)Lincwelder AC180C (1952)Victor & Smith O/A torchesMiller spot welder
Reply:Awesome! Thanks alot everyone for the fast responses. This forum rocks. Ill be sure to post some pics after of my butchered welds LOL
Reply:Hey what kind of filler rod do i need to weld cast iron exhaust Manifolds? I remember someone saying you need a rod with high nickel content for best results? I got a few here id like to practice on.I