p.s.i. regulator for mig

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I have two very nice heavy duty Argon regulators. However, they are pressure regs instead of flow regs. Other than trial/error, does anyone know of a conversion from psi to cfm or cfh? Right now I have just turned it up if I was getting porosity from migging outdoors."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Hello Stick-man, I may be completely off-base with my answer here, but check the instructions and various tags on the face of the gauges on your regulators. Some of the gas regulators used on various machines and manufactured by various makers rely on specifically sized orifices that are screwed into the outlet ends of those types of regulators where your outlet fittings are located and the hoses are attached. The CFH or LPM data on the gauges is only accurate if they have the correct size orifice restrictor for a specific gas installed in them. As different gases have different densities, using the correct size orifice restrictor will provide the correct reading on the gauge regardless of gas type as long as the restrictor matches. Hope this doesn't sound too confusing and possibly this might apply to your gauges. Best regards, Allanaevald
Reply:You can't convert directly. CFM is cubic feet per minute, a measure of flowrate. PSI is pounds per square inch, a measure of pressure.
Reply:I guess I should have just asked if anyone here uses a psi reg and @ what psi. Too many variables. I will just keep using it as is. I know Smith makes restrictors which will give you a defined, fixed flow at 30 psi. But like I said, if there is a breeze I turn it up. Oh well, I guess just forget this thread."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Always ran 20 psi with our LN-25's, CO2, .045 Excel-Arc dual shield wire.  The best pressure you can run is the minimum pressure that gives sufficient gas coverage.  If your welds are clean and have no porosity, you have sufficient gas coverage.
Reply:Bust a move and buy a flowmeter. Think of the money you will waste in bad welds and ruined parts by using a pressure regulator when you need a flowmeter. Used flowmeters are about $40.
Reply:I think I got my flow meter on sale new for $40-$50...
Reply:I have a flow guage. But I also have two very nice, heavy duty psi regs I would also like to use. Unless you are following a WPS, which says to use a certain cfm or cfh, I really don't think it matters. In other words, if you use the least amount of psi to effectively shield the weld, you won't be wasting gas. As long as sufficient gas is flowing, it doesn't really matter what unit of measurement you use.If this theory is wrong, PLEASE correct me. But little did I know, the reg I have been using for the last 1 1/2 yrs was a psi, and my welds were fine. I just picked up another psi, like new, real cheap. Thinking it was a flow guage, but when I looked at it closely, it said psi. So I remembered the one I have been using was from my fathers film developing equipment. I went and checked and sure enough it is a psi.  I do always weld outdoors, so I am going to go thru more gas than normal."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:psi = pressureCFH or CFM = flow rateTwo different things, although they are 'related' as a certain psi through a certain flow resistance/restriction does give a certain flow rate.  Easiest way the get a certain flowrate is to just go get a flowmeter.  Either a floating-ball type actual flowmeter or the dial-gauge type calibrated-orifice type of pressure=flowrate flowmeter.I guess you -could- use your pressure regulator and then feed the pressure-regulated output from that into a flowmeter and thus get (maybe) a little 'better' regulation of your flowrate by adding extra regulator stages into the flow.  Usually not needed, but if it makes you 'happy' to use your pressure regulator ...    The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:arc-zone.com sells a flow gauge tool thingy that measures the flow coming out of the gun (where it matters)think its under $20G