purge stinger when done?

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I'm a newbie at welding and just got my first bottle of C25 that I'm still practicing with. Question is - when I'm done for the day and shut off the valve on the bottle, should I purge the gas from the stinger as well? I've been tapping the trigger a few times to relieve pressure, but don't know if I'm following a good practice or just wasting gas.Any thoughts?
Reply:I'm new to MIG also and was told to purge it if I am not going to use it for 24 hrs.  When I quit late at night, with the intent to restart in the early AM, I leave it pressurized.  I ALWAYS shut off the gas bottle.Rob PageMiller Bobcat 250Lincoln SP170-T
Reply:I purge my tig equipment because it's habit but no reason why.  I never purge my wire equipment at work, but that's because there is often 300' of gas hose leading to where I am working.  Big waste there Btw, stinger is usually referring to the electrode holder in stick welding.  And gun/whip referring to wirefeeding setup.  Although i've heard someone call a stinger a stickwhip before.  hmm
Reply:To purge, or not to purge, that is the question.What's the problem with leaving gas in the line between the bottle and the solenoid in the machine?  The is no problem.  In fact, it could be a good indicator of a leak in that section of the sytem, if you look the next day and see that the pressure has dropped to zero.  I'd leave it pressurized.What's the problem with purging the gas out?  The is no problem.  That portion of the system is sealed at both ends and is not going to pick up humidity contamination.  Not much gas is being wasted.
Reply:I don't purge. It's my way to leak check the plumbing and solenoid. This stuff is made to take pressure all day long. Never saw a tag that said "30% duty cycle on gas plumbing" !!!
Reply:Most of the time I forget to even shut the tank off.And I don't purge when I do, as mentioned it a nice way to know if you have a leak.
Reply:Me!,glad you mentioned the tank.I forgot to shut mine off and lost a whole argon tank cause of a small leak.  I try to remember to shut it down now.  I need a sign on the shop door, "shut the gas off Dummy!".
Reply:You should purge before you use the welder, but there is no reason to purge an intert gas from the system afterwards.
Reply:I turn it off at the tank, but will probably start leaving the "whip" (  ) charged. As mentioned, it's a good leak check.
Reply:Azlar,Reading your last post led me to believe you maybe don't understand what you're purging when you shut off the gas at the bottle and pull the trigger.The gas in the feeder hose (ie-machine to gun) is not under pressure.  It is only the length of hose from the regulator (flow gauge) to the gas solonoid on the feeder that is "under pressure".  We are generally talking about a "very" small amount of gas.In the case of welderboy, in an industrial setting, what he's talking about is the length of gas hose from a central (manifold) gas distribution point to his machine in the shop.  The gas solonoid is on his feeder.  To purge 300' of gas (manifold to machine) would be a significant loss of gas.  Wouldn't make sense as the lines are designed to carry that gas pressure all day.Hope this makes sense.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:I thing by "whip" he was referring to the hose whip from the regulator to the welder...