Quick Question - Empty tank??

admin

total newb question. ive been welding with my new diversion 165 and am using the smith regulator that came with itthe other day i noticed on the psi gauge that it was almost at zero. but it slipped my mind, and i started to weld earlier. i welded for a good hour or so. i assumed i would run out of gas at any moment, but never did even with the needle on zero. the cfh meter still showed pressure. i took the regulator off and opened up the valve a little and heard the hiss of gas. i know the tanks are compressed so it could of been air, but the psi still reads zero.  i even went back to lay down some beads to see if i had gas and sure enough, i still could weld am i missing something here? broken regulator? how can you tell for sure that a tank is empty?
Reply:Originally Posted by Blkrstr21total newb question. ive been welding with my new diversion 165 and am using the smith regulator that came with itthe other day i noticed on the psi gauge that it was almost at zero. but it slipped my mind, and i started to weld earlier. i welded for a good hour or so. i assumed i would run out of gas at any moment, but never did even with the needle on zero. the cfh meter still showed pressure. i took the regulator off and opened up the valve a little and heard the hiss of gas. i know the tanks are compressed so it could of been air, but the psi still reads zero.  i even went back to lay down some beads to see if i had gas and sure enough, i still could weld am i missing something here? broken regulator? how can you tell for sure that a tank is empty?
Reply:Hmmm, I didn't know that!  I assumed they purged the tanks before filling them!  I usually run tanks down until  the flow gets too low and starts contaminating the weld.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:I never heard of this.  Sounds more like your gauge is no good.  When my gauge reads zero, I've got no more gas.My supplier will triple purge the tank if it hasn't been run down to zero (so there is enough gas left to purge the line and valve), and that's fine for welding stainless, but for aluminum, he swaps with tanks that have been vacuum purged by his supplier.
Reply:I have a friend that fills tanks for Oxarc, I will ask him. I have always emptied my tanks completely and assumed they did the same. I would expect it to be common practice to completely empty the tanks. Maybe someone here has first hand experience with this and will chime in before I get a hold of him.UA Local 598
Reply:i make it a practice with any tank i return(ox,acet,argon) that  the valve is open before  the tank goes in my truck.that way i know the tank is empty and  less chance to go boom..
Reply:Originally Posted by Blkrstr21...how can you tell for sure that a tank is empty?