Do you have to use

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Argon and Oxygen mix to get a spray with a mig welder?  Ive been reading about 98%argon 2%O2.  Does spray mode sound different than short circuit?Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:not really but it helps, just turn the volts up.  The arc will have a kind of fast humming sound instead of a crackling sound, and the weld metal litterally sprays off the end of the wire.  It should be done only in the flat position
Reply:Sounds totally different.  We run 95/5 and that works.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:I recomend you use a 92% / 8% mix of argon/ CO2, This will actually allow you to bounce between spray and short circuit and still produce excellent welds without thinking you need to have 2 gases hanging around. Also depends on the wire, for dual shield you get a nice spray with a 75/ 25% mix specially stainless... stuff lays in like paint. There are other mixes you can use, I've used a 90/ 10% Ar/ CO2.... worked well, 98/ 2% awesome for spray but not for short circuit. Spray transfer is achieved at about 26 - 32 amps, give or take depending on the machine. It's extremely hot and has a liquid quality which makes it difficult to run out of position without a pulse function. Flat, horizontal.. overhead horizontal filets.... are doable, but vert up and overhead (flat) not without the pulse. Sound wise it is more of a hising noise very quite..... like an air leak, also you want to travel in a forehand motion (push)._________________Chris
Reply:Definatly hotter on the hands too.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:Pure argon works also.Lorenzo, did you mean 26-32 volts instead of amps?Last edited by smithboy; 01-12-2007 at 07:59 AM.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:smith boy you say pure argon works to.how does pure argon work on short arc?
Reply:Both spray and short arc benifit hugely from the addition of oxygen or carbon dioxide to argon.98/2 O2 and 92/8 CO2 are common spray and pulsed spray mixes.Short arc is a much colder process, lower amps and volts, so it benifits from higher percentages such as 75/25 CO2, or even 100% CO2 for max penetration, although the downside is increased spatter.http://files.aws.org/wj/2006/02/wj20...j200602-46.pdf
Reply:Thanks fellas, Ive just got 75/25 and straight argon. I got a hissing sound with some .030 aluminum wire, and wondered if this was what spray mode was.  I thought I was just running it too hot (think I was, cause 3 tips later, I turned it back down).  heh.Think Ill give the 92/8 mix a try when its time to refill.  Thanks again, you guys are awsome.Last edited by Doolittle; 01-12-2007 at 04:37 PM.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.
Reply:Dood,you didn't use the 75/25 for aluminum, did you?Just Argon, or Helium, or mix of the two for Aluminum.I was talking plain old steel when I mentioned 98/2 O2 and 92/8 CO2.And if you're smoking tips with your "spray" transfer, you may just be running too much voltage (long arc length) for the wire speed (current).  With excessive voltage the arc will be very close to the tip and tip will get hot real fast.  Just something to look at.
Reply:Originally Posted by Doolittle...I got a hissing sound with some .030 aluminum wire...
Reply:Originally Posted by smithboyPure argon works also.Lorenzo, did you mean 26-32 volts instead of amps?
Reply:No, I switched to the straight argon. The arc was brighter and I could see it walking up the wire (albeit, slowly).  I was using the little Lincoln 175.  It was turned oh, a little over 1/2 way up and the wire speed was about 3/4 all the way up (its been a few days now).  When I turned it back down some, it welded just fine.  Its not as pretty as tig, starts cold, ends hot (bloomed out), but it worked.  Oh, and it left a black powder around the weld, is this normal?  It just wiped off.Various GrindersVictor Journeyman torch200cf Acet. 250cf oxygenLincoln 175 plus/alpha2 gunLincoln v205t tigLincoln 350mpEsab 650 plasmaWhen you can get up in the morning, Its a good day.Live each day like its your last.