Argon Flow rate for Tig

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I am new to tig welding and and a bit confused about what pressure to set my gauge on as in a PSI for a good starting point when welding say 11 ga steel. Also how do I l know when to increse or decrease my flow rate. I am using a Lincoln Precision TIG 225 with argon 3/32 electrode I understand if I have weld contamination than I need to increase PSI but I have no idea even where to start.
Reply:you shouldnt be welding anything with tig thats contaminated.  Tig welding is all about getting it CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN.  Chemical cleaning (acetone) mechanical (sanding, wire brushing etc...) do whatever it takes to get it as clean as possible, it will make life alot easier.As for how much gas to use, i normally use about 15cubic feet per hour for aluminum, and about 10 cubic feet per hour for steel and stainless.  These are both for being indoors.  If your are welding outdoors and its windy you will obviously need more shielding gas to compensate.Another way to set your gas is to keep lowering your gas flow until you get porosity in the weld (for steel) or black soot and puddle that wont form (aluminum)  Once you find out where that point is turn your gas up a couple more CFH(cubic feet per hour) and you  should be fine.Using too much shielding gas can also be detrimental as it will cause turbulance around the weld, which will draw oxygen into the weld pool and cause porosity etc...good luck, hope that helps
Reply:drivethruboy54 beat me to the punch.He also said it much better than me.Last edited by Craig in Denver; 03-26-2008 at 01:26 AM.9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Well I guess I need to buy a flow meter becacuse all I have is the PSI guage and I can not tell my cubic feet per hour only PSI
Reply:Did this come with the welder?
Reply:Most welders come with what they call a flowgauge.  It looks like a regulator, and in fact it really is, but the dial is calibrated to read in flow based on a known orifice size.
Reply:I am suprised you can even weld if you have only a psi gage.  The arc would be very violent and irratic.  You need a cfh flowmeter if you don't have one.  Gas flow just needs to be as little as possible to get the job done.  If you don't get clean shiny welds, you need more - up to a point.
Reply:My 225 came with a flow gauge.....Yeah, yeah, I know you are a weldor too. But, are you a good one?
Reply:You CAN use a plain PSI regulator, but without it being calibrated to a known orifice size, you are guessing.  If it will go low enough, you can do the same test by dropping the pressure until you get porosity, then upping it enough to consistantly not.  But you won't be able to use the same setting in a different installation.  You may need to install an orifice in the line to restrict the flow enough for this to work.
Reply:I can do CFH but on a requlator style gauge which is fine that is what came with my welder from lincoln.  Thanks for all the info and a good starting place always get great info from the members and again thanks.
Reply:So your tank pressure will be in PSI and your line pressure will be calibrated and read in CFH, even though it's on a regulator gauge.  You're good to go.