TIG---argon only, or argon/carbon diox. mix?

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For Tig wilding steel only, is it best to use pure argon, or is it workable to use argon/carbon dioxide mix (25& co2)?
Reply:Definately 100% argon for TIG.  Any C02 will contaminate the tungsten.BTW - welcome to the forum.MM200 w/Spoolmatic 1Syncrowave 180SDBobcat 225G Plus - LP/NGMUTT Suitcase WirefeederWC-1S/Spoolmatic 1HF-251D-1PakMaster 100XL '68 Red Face Code #6633 projectStar Jet 21-110Save Second Base!
Reply:Argon / CO2 has no use for TIG. I hear it works with MIG, but I don't know for certain.Rex
Reply:a co2 blend might work for wilding but straight argon is best for welding. helium has also been used for tig welding, hence the name heli-arc
Reply:Argon is the catch all for most DC tig jobs. You can weld mild steel, copper, stainless, brass and few others Im sure I forgot. C25 is the catch all gas for mig but you can have good to great results running straight Co2 with mig as well. If you want a mixture gas for welding in AC you can run a Argon/Helium mix. The Helium should be roughly 75% of the mix.
Reply:TIG needs to be done with non-reactive (inert) gases,,,,,   Argon and Helium are non-reactive.   CO2 and Oxygen are both reactive (non-inert) gases.   Thus, you can TIG only with Argon or Helium, or a mix of the two,  but you can MIG with any combination of these gases, depending on the circumstances.I will also mention,,,,,  in MIG, you almost need to have some reactive elements present,,,,,  that is O2 or CO2, for a decent weld,,,,   can't do it with Argon alone.  Just the nature of the beast ........  straight argon for aluminum only .......Last edited by mark8310; 01-26-2009 at 01:21 PM.