How low do let your argon tank go before refill?

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Well.... I finally got some time in this afternoon to get some more practing in.  I noticed that my argon bottle is nearing the end of its supply.  It is approximately 4ft tall (don't know what size of CF it is.)  How low do you let yours get?  I would assume it isn't wise to let your own bottles run till empty.  Is this the case?  I saw some threads on acetelyne bottles but wasn't sure if this is the case for argon.Here's my regulator and a 1/8" ms t joint I did.   Geeze I feel out of place not touching it for a week!Dustin Attached Images
Reply:I would only refill early iffin' I thought I would run out over the weekend- but I don't like to think about it so I have 2 bottles of Co2 and 2 bottles of Argon.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I change it when I see signs of lack of sheilding gas.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:Yup, I also wait 'till lack of coverage begins to show.   I don't usually trust the gauge.  The last roll cage I welded up with the gauge reading zero!  (apparently zero on a 300cf tank isn't quite "zero")  'Course, having a spare tank at the shop allows me to do that with no worries.
Reply:That reminds me of a buddy of mine in a previous life. We lived on Guam and dove all the time. My buddy was a big breather and went through a lot of air. I used to ask him when he wanted to surface (we had dive computers that essentially allowed us to run out of air before bottom time,) and his reply was "When I cant breathe no more.."After two or three times of him having to use my spare regulator, I finally told him he oughta figure out a better way of getting to the surface...like using his own air......I wasn't funny at the moment, but it sure made for good conversation afterwards.
Reply:Thanks guys!  I didnt want to run it so low that it would reach atmospheric pressure and have some type of moisture contamination or something like that.  Back to the garage to burn a few..... welds that is! Dustin
Reply:You still have more then a 1/4 tank left. I don't change out until it is empty.  Of course as was already stated, if it is close to a weekend then get it filled. Or as is more common get it changed out for another tank. That is what is common for most LWS.Tim Beeker.
Reply:Since I'm a hobby guy, I don't care when it runs out. I've found that an unshielded weld has exactly the same color as a properly jetted two stroke spark plug. 9-11-2001......We Will Never ForgetRetired desk jockey. Hobby weldor with a little training. Craftsman O/A---Flat, Vert, Ovhd, Horz. Miller Syncrowave 250
Reply:When adequate shielding becomes a problem...Miller Syncrowave 180SDMillermatic 175
Reply:I'm pretty good with a grinder, I go maybe 1" past when I run out of gas...on accident... every time!!!!!!And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:There's loads left in your tank. I keep going until it stops, no point in wasting good gas.
Reply:Same here.  It will weld for quite some time when the gauge reads 0.  Those gauges aren't designed to read accurately at low pressures, so you just ignore its number and know you're low.
Reply:Refill it when empty and no more gas comes out, and have a second cylinder available for when the first runs out.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:my tank gauge has read 0 for days..today i believe it is..been getting traces of brown for a day or so,, and then bam!  curdled black snot..no doubt about it.. Attached Images
Reply:Welding mild steel I am using C25 from a 60cf cylinder.  About the time the cylinder pressure gauge reads as shown in Duvlitho's lead photo for this thread my beads start getting sooty.  Real sooty.  If I change the cylinder they are instantly clean again.Looking up the properties of the gasses I see Argon is lighter than CO2: Specific Gravity = 1.378 vs 1.53 for CO2, and lower molecular weight =  39.48 vs 44.01.It would appear that the ratio of gasses being delivered through the hose will vary with total volume of gas in the cylinder, consuming all the argon long before all the CO2 has been consumed.  Is it reasonable to presume the CO2 is settling to the bottom of the cylinder and the Argon is rising to the top?  Have any of you long time pros seen anything like this?-MondoMember, AWSLincoln ProMIG 140Lincoln AC TombstoneCraftsman Lathe 12 x 24 c1935Atlas MFC Horizontal MillCraftsman Commercial Lathe 12 x 36 c1970- - - I'll just keep on keepin' on.