Small Gas Bottle, Big Mistake!

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When I got my new MIG a few weeks back, to save money I convinced myself a 40cf bottle would be ok.  After filling it twice in two weeks at $20 a pop, it was obvious I made a mistake.  I had already signed up and paid the $19 at my local Atwood's to do the Throughbred exchange.  I paid a $100 upgrade and got a 125cf.  Am I glad.  I've done quite a bit of welding and the needle has barely moved.  And it costs $27 to fill the large bottle.  This is no brainer.  You new guys, listen to the old hands and get a large bottle.
Reply:Just out of curiosity how much wire did you burn in that 2-weeks.  I have gotten so I leak test every bottle after getting them home and hooked up. If I have any leaks I get them taken care of right away.
Reply:Yep, get the big bottle. Even if you do not use it all right away, its a better deal.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Yeah big bottle are good.However,test each joint, also.  Look inside the welder and at the solenoid.  In cheaper mig welder the connection may only be with loose fitting barbed fitting.  Also turn off gas when not in use.   Finally, run gas at proper flow.
Reply:Originally Posted by locomoshunI convinced myself a 40cf bottle would be ok.  After filling it twice in two weeks at $20 a pop, it was obvious I made a mistake.   I paid a $100 upgrade and got a 125cf.  Am I glad.  I've done quite a bit of welding and the needle has barely moved.
Reply:I always turned off the bottle when not in use, and a ran it at about 20-25.  My welder is a Hobart 140 so I doubt being a cheap welder is the problem.  I probably used 2/3 of a 4" spool per 40cf bottle.
Reply:Approximately how much .025 wire should a small 110v MIG go through to empty a 55cf c25 tank at "normal" flow?Last edited by Visorblue; 01-24-2007 at 11:25 AM.Warning: I have been wrong before!New small workshop, small MIG, oxyacetylene set with a DHC-2000 that I'm learning to use and really like. Life is good!Typos are there for those that look for them. I try to do something for everybody.
Reply:I was snowed in for a week and I did a welding cart project.  The new 125cf bottle was open for a big part of five days while I was cutting, fitting, grinding, etc.  The gauge barely moved, so I'm convinced there are no leaks.  Small bottle bad, big bottle good.