Fairly New to Welding and Just Bought My First Mig

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Can anybody tell me what would be the best gas to use with my Millermatic 185?  I spent more than my wife was wanting me too on the welder.  I don't know if it was a good deal or not, I paid $430 for it.  It was practically new, and still has most of the original spool in it.  Anyway, I read that I could use just CO2 but I was also told to use 75% argon/25% CO2.  I will be welding a mix of steel and stainless steel.  The place I work has a big stainless scrap bin and they never seem to mind when i raid it.  Anyway, can you use just CO2?  How well would it work on stainless?  Thanks
Reply:Hey welcome to the forum gjgarre.Congratulations on the MM185 and I've got to believe you got a decent deal on it for $430.As for the proper shielding gas, both those you've mentioned are typically used for mild steel with perhaps the argon/C02 mixture (C-25) being a little more popular than 100% C02 that produces a little more spatter than C-25.  Stainless steel however is going to require an argon/C02/helium blend for best results.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:thanks, a follow up question would be, would 100% co2 work on stainless?  At least until I can afford a tank of argon/co2/helium?  And if i got said co2, would they be able to use the same tank for the mix gas or would i have to buy another cylinder when the time came?  Thanks for answering my newbie questions.
Reply:Originally Posted by gjgarreI don't know if it was a good deal or not, I paid $430 for it....
Reply:my wife will be glad to hear that.
Reply:Originally Posted by gjgarrethanks, a follow up question would be, would 100% co2 work on stainless?  At least until I can afford a tank of argon/co2/helium?  And if i got said co2, would they be able to use the same tank for the mix gas or would i have to buy another cylinder when the time came?  Thanks for answering my newbie questions.
Reply:Originally Posted by duaneb55I believe I've seen 98%/2% argon/C02 used with mild steel for spray transfer welding also used with stainless steel but if I recall correctly, it produces more spatter with the SS than a helium/argon/C02 mix.  I'll ask that any one here that knows for sure confirm or correct as needed though.Edit: Oh, and no you can't use one type gas cylinder for another type gas.
Reply:Originally Posted by down19992000I believe thats 98 % argon 2 % O2.   2% oxygen instead of carbon dioxide.
Reply:For SS a mix of 90 helium, 7.5 argon, 2.5 co2 works good also.
Reply:I use C25 or CO2 for mld steel and pure argon for SS and Alum. I have tried getting away with using C25 and CO2 on SS because I was lazy and didn't want to change the bottles and found out that it doesn't work so well. You are going to need two bottles for those metals.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.