Standard gas cylinder size for shop

admin

Newbie,  I'm getting ready to buy my first gas cylinder for TIG welding, wondering what size most have in their shop.   I'm planning on practicing quite a bit...........125 cu ft too large?   I plan on taking Jody's  recommendation from Welding tips and tricks for using Argon/Helium 50/50 mix.   Thx
Reply:as for the 125. it's to small for my shop. most of mine are 170-280's. less money to fill since the bulk of the charge is the handling charge the gas is the least cost. as for the 50/50....why?  why do you need this mix instead of 100% argon? what are you welding that you need to pay for the helium?225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:I've watched several of this guy's videos from welding tips and tricks.com..............Just thought I'd use every advantage I can get learning to TIG aluminum............here's what he says.........."Get a cylinder of 50/50 argon/helium for use on Tig welding Aluminum. You will not regret this… sometimes you can even weld thicker aluminum with a smaller electrode. It also makes the aluminum puddle quicker and welds cleaner."Is the consensus that 100% argon should suffice?   thx
Reply:no need for anything other than 100 % argon to practice withMiller Xmt 350Lincoln Ln-25Ahp 200xSmith Gas Mixer AR/HTig is my Kung FuThrowing down dimes and weaving aboutInstagram http://instagram.com/[email protected]
Reply:Originally Posted by bgrantNewbie,  I'm getting ready to buy my first gas cylinder for TIG welding,
Reply:sounds like good advice.  thx
Reply:Get the biggest cylinder you can carry.  That's probably going to be a 250 cf.  I bought a few 'bastard' bottles that were leased bottles from a company that's now out of business.  These are 330cf.  My LWS will exchange these with no questions asked.  Garage sales are a good place to find cheap bottles (assuming your LWS will exchange/fill them).Dynasty200DX w/coolmate1MM210MM VintageESAB miniarc161ltsLincoln AC225Victor O/A, Smith AW1ACutmaster 81IR 2475N7.5FPRage3Jancy USA1019" SBAEAD-200LE
Reply:I'll play devil's advocate here.  I had all 280cf bottles and I've since traded them in on 125cf. (Ar, O2) I don't maintain a seperate set for my truck and shop, so I'm moving them on a regular basis from the welding carts to the bottle rack on my truck.  I got tired of picking up the big bottles and loading them on and off the truck.  They're just too heavy to man-handle, and I haven't made time to build a bottle rack on the truck that's lower to the ground.  I'm not sure it would matter even if I did.. So I traded my large bottles for mid-size ones.  I haven't missed the large bottles yet.  I haven't been pinched too bad by the added cost, and my back doesn't miss the added strain.  I'm not hampered by the extra trips to exchange bottles.  It's not been that big a deal for me....That said, I've rented large bottles when the occasion demands.  If I need to purge a tank or back purge some pipe, I've rented a 180cf bottle of N2 or Ar for that specific job.  That keeps me from running my smaller bottles dry and my LWS delivers rentals wherever I need them.  The rental fee on a large bottle for purging is just pass through to the customer....I'll second DSW's advice.  Start with 100% Ar and learn to TIG weld on steel first.  I learned to TIG weld with a fellow who had zero prior welding experience.  He took the two week basic TIG class because he was restoring classic Porsche's for a hobby.  He was a well to do NYC attorney; a nice guy, some experience wrenching but no practical welding skills what so ever.  Two weeks into a TIG class and he was barely able to run fillets on steel.  Aluminum was completely out of the question. I don't recall that he ever made an aluminum weld without burning through the 1/8" base metal we trained on. I was a novice welder, with a few months stick and oxy-acetylene training under my belt at that time.  It wasn't that big a leap for me and the other students.  I was really surprised that at the difficulty this fellow was having.  I mean, he wasn't blind or working with some other handicap.  He was smart.  But the hand eye coordination and skill at 'reading the puddle' just weren't there.  Just my $0.02, YMMV.Last edited by A_DAB_will_do; 04-30-2012 at 02:16 PM.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:I'll take your advice.   So, first practice with 1/8" steel (non stainless), using argon gas for sheilding.   Suggestion for rods for this?   I'm planning on doing some stick welding on steel as well with 7018---will those suffice for TIG on steel?
Reply:7018 is a coated electrode for stick welding, no shielding gas needed. 70s6 maybe with an er in front for electrode rod is probably what to use.  I guess if you had some free coated electrodes you could hammer off the flux and wire brush or file them clean.  I will do that with nickel or high nickel stick electrodes from time to time.  The rods come in thre foot long pieces, I more often than not cut them in half for easier handling but I have boxes full.  Probably get both 1/16 and 3/32 to experiment with. Attached ImagesLast edited by fran...k.; 04-30-2012 at 05:22 PM.
Reply:Shop around the corner has oxygen cylinders that must be 2 feet across and 5 feet tall. Kinda depends on what you are doing?
Reply:Just a hobby for me.   I even thought about just going to TSC since they are open even on the weekends.   I think they have 120's for about $300.   Sounds kinda steep.
Reply:Tractor supply is a great place to get nuts and bolts and bring the dog with you.  I went there trying to get an 80 cubic foot argon (swapped) as the welding shop wanted $10 less than my "contract price" for the 336, came down maybe another 5% acting like that would sway me.  I had to ask at the front if they had argon, wait for the guy walk to the extreme back outside, discover their idea of argon was mix for mig.  Maybe your tsc is different but I wouldn't bet on them stocking what size argon you choose.fran