Recommended flowmeter for dynasty 200dx?

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Hello,What kind of flowmeter would you guys recommend for a dynasty 200dx? Thanks!
Reply:For argon? Standard will be fine. Nothing crazy for the Dynasty  my friend
Reply:Smith Model # 32-30-580 (Selec-O-Gas)Not the cheapest but extremely accurate.Ability to set flow rates for different gas mixes (Argon/Helium) is important if you ever use these mixes.  A straight Argon or Argon/CO2 flowmeter won't cut it here.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:Thanks guys!
Reply:I suspect most people will use pure argon for everything.If you are going to do stainless, consider a dual outlet setup.   As for dual stag high accuracy, I'd have to have someone prove the need first.  If you've tweaked your process to the point that you can run 11cfh but 10 cfh is an issue, fine, get the high accuracy regulator/flowmeter.  If you find that somewhere around 15 cfh, with a number 6 cup you can get away with all kinds of stickout, why bother?  Save a little gas?  For the home user/hobbyist you will have to go through quite a bit of gas to justify the added expense.The dual outlet however will allow you to back purge (esp. stainless).  I think you can get the Smith for $150 or so.Best price I could find:http://www.weldfabulous.com/Smith-33...-p8415226.htmlAs for brand.  If you get something made by Victor (premium price!) Simth, or Harris you will be able to repair it 10 years down the road.  My LWS has flat rate rebuild prices (extra if they replace glass).  I have Victor and Smith.  I find the victor a little more compact but also a little tougher to read in low light.  Smith ball seems to be easier to see.  Right now, Smith is good enough and significantly cheaper than Victor so I've only bought Smith in the last year (1 dual, 1 single outlet, 2 flow gauges).edit:  looking a bit further:http://www.weldfabulous.com/Regulato...-p4543485.htmlLast edited by con_fuse9; 03-06-2011 at 05:30 PM.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Sundown,Have you ever figured out why they offer inlet pressures of 80, 50 and 30 psi?  Why would someone pick one over the other?BTW, I've been going with 50 mostly because the Dynasty came with one direct from Miller.  No other reason than it seems to work.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Con-Fuse,No.  Never really researched it.I use the Selec-O-Gas (30PSI) on all my rigs (mig and tig) and have found them to be quite durable and accurate.  What I like is I can see the ball from across the room.While these are considered "premium flowmeters" they are not dual stage.  In fact, I can't ever remember seeing a two stage flowmeter.  Are you sure you're not talking about regulators when you talk two stage?  I use two stage Smith (and Harris on one set) OA regulators on my gas setup (because they're much more accurate as the hi pres gas drops) but I've never used two stage flowmeters.On my Smith mixers, the flowmeters are built in and I've found them to be "accurate enough".  On my Thermco mixer, I set the delivery pressure to 30PSI and use a long hose directly to a Western quick connect which is hooked to a Smith H1240 Flowmeter.  That way I set the flowrate directly at the machine, not at the bottle.Whether the 1st stage delivery pressure is 30, 50, or 80 PSI I really don't see where there's an advantage to one over the other.  The size of the orifice, is, I'm sure, different.Nothing wrong with Dual Flowmeter Regulators.  I've just found I can buy two higher quality flowmeters (shop e-bay deals) for less than I can find a dual flowmeter of lesser quality.  Never been a factor for me because I always use a separate bottle for purge anyway.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 will most likely just use argon gas.  My friend and I just recently bought this welder, and this will be our first welder.  His uncle is a certified tig welder, so he will teach us the basics.  From there, it is all about seat time for us to get better.I still have a lot to learn about welding, so I will keep on reading the forums, watch videos, and read welding books!  I would like to take some welding courses at my local community college, but I am currently enrolled at University of Texas to become a engineer.Thanks for the recommendation guys!Last edited by krouchchocolate; 03-06-2011 at 09:26 PM.
Reply:krouch,Sounds like a plan.If more of our new guys would approach welding as a building block/learning process, rather than "I want to build a ..... next week", we'd all be a lot better off.We won't hold being a HORN against you.From another engineer by way of VA Tech and THE U.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:Originally Posted by SundownIIIkrouch,Sounds like a plan.If more of our new guys would approach welding as a building block/learning process, rather than "I want to build a ..... next week", we'd all be a lot better off.We won't hold being a HORN against you.From another engineer by way of VA Tech and THE U.
Reply:Originally Posted by SundownIIICon-Fuse,I use the Selec-O-Gas (30PSI) on all my rigs (mig and tig) and have found them to be quite durable and accurate.  What I like is I can see the ball from across the room.While these are considered "premium flowmeters" they are not dual stage.  In fact, I can't ever remember seeing a two stage flowmeter.  Are you sure you're not talking about regulators when you talk two stage?  I use two stage Smith (and Harris on one set) OA regulators on my gas setup (because they're much more accurate as the hi pres gas drops) but I've never used two stage flowmeters.
Reply:krouch,BS in Civil, MS in Industrial.  Many moons ago.Con-fuseThe larger bottles just make more sense for me.  I own a couple of 330's, but lease about 6 more.  Also own 6 125's that I use for portable, helium, oxygen.One of the 330's stays hooked to the Thermco mixer along with a 50# bottle of CO2.My bottle lease is far offset by the cheaper cost per/cu. ft. of gas.The two large bottles I own are now a pain.  For several years I had no problem swaping them out at my LWS.  He sold out to Arcet.  Now they won't exchange the bottles since they don't have their neck ring.  I have to drive about 65 miles to another gas supplier to swap those bottles.My 125's have to be sent out to be filled.  Takes about 2 weeks.  BTW:  That 2 Stage Flowmeter (35-30-320) is a "high flow" flowmeter designed for use with CO2 only.  The reason for the two regulators (one higher pressure than the other) is to prevent the freezing with flowing CO2 without needing an external heater.  Some other brands of high flow CO2 flowmeters use a small electric heating element to prevent the freezing of the regulator.  The 320 signifies use on CO2 vs inert gas.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:Sundown,Are you working for a engineering firm now, or do you own your own fab business?  It seems like you own your own fab business with all the nice equipment you have!
Reply:I prefer a lower pressure flowmeter on a gas solenoid equipped TIG machine, because it saves gas on every solenoid open/close cycle.  The reason why this is true is because every time the solenoid closes, the pressure in the hose connecting between the needle valve (generally on the outlet of the flow meter) and the solenoid (generally inside the TIG machine) will rise to the flowmeter's pressure.  An excess volume of gas will be stored that is proportional to the inside diameter of the hose, the length of the hose, and the flowmeter pressure.  If you have too long of a hose, too large of an inside diameter, or too high of a flowmeter pressure, you will get an excess of costly wasted gas out of your tig cup every time your solenoid opens.... "whoosh!"  You may even then need to waste more gas, by turning up the pre-flow time to an excessive duration, to wait for the excess, turbulent high velocity gas flow coming out of the shielding cup to settle down and give the arc a chance of forming quietly when the machine tries to strike the arc.So, my vote would be for a 30psi flow meter if you can find one.  3/16" ID is also preferable to 1/4" ID for the flowmeter to TIG machine inert gas hose.
Reply:FWIW Victor flowmeters (HRF 2425 etc) are very easy to refresh with a kit. If you have a clean one you can often unscrew the bowl and replace the soft parts under the nozzle (see manual) without disturbing anything else. I've done several of mine. The seal on the poppet hardens and is typically what leaks.You can also send 'em to the Doctor:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=44174If you keep an eye out you can collect used flowmeters/regulators etc as cheap as you'd collect OA gear.
Reply:I hate bumping old threads, but I read the PSI output on the flow meter and since I seem to be having problems with this myself I figure I would put my .02 in.With my Syncrowave 250 I believe the crack pressure is around 60 PSI on the solenoid.  So it would seem that if my output pressure on the flow meter is 60 PSI the solenoid is no longer able to close as it is not strong enough. So I weld (pre and post flow off) and when I let off the pedal I still get gas flow because the pressure coming from the flow meter is higher than the solenoid can handle.  Anyways, sorry again about bumping a 6 month old thread!  Just figured I would add to this PSI "thing"JoeMiller 140 Autoset (2010)Miller Syncrowave 250 (1996)
Reply:Originally Posted by joebieI hate bumping old threads, but I read the PSI output on the flow meter and since I seem to be having problems with this myself I figure I would put my .02 in.With my Syncrowave 250 I believe the crack pressure is around 60 PSI on the solenoid.  So it would seem that if my output pressure on the flow meter is 60 PSI the solenoid is no longer able to close as it is not strong enough. So I weld (pre and post flow off) and when I let off the pedal I still get gas flow because the pressure coming from the flow meter is higher than the solenoid can handle.  Anyways, sorry again about bumping a 6 month old thread!  Just figured I would add to this PSI "thing"
Reply:Well the problem is... the solenoid/valve is brand new from about a week ago :-(I still  have to tap this little SOB to get the gas flow to stop.  Makes no sense.JoeMiller 140 Autoset (2010)Miller Syncrowave 250 (1996)