decent regulator??

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Hi,So I have new (to me) Miller Maxstar 150STH.  The guy at my local welding shop sold me a Victor AF 150-580 flow regulator.Is this a good one?  I am a home user.Thanks!Joe
Reply:I don't have personal experience with that regulator, but I did look on ebay to see what it looked like.  Personally, I prefer flowmeters (high pressure gauge and also a clear vertical cylinder and floating ball inside) for MIG and my limited TIG experience.  There's nothing wrong with a standard regulator, but a floating ball will let you know really quick that you forgot to cut off the torch's gas valve, that you have a leak, etc.
Reply:Originally Posted by tbone550I don't have personal experience with that regulator, but I did look on ebay to see what it looked like.  Personally, I prefer flowmeters (high pressure gauge and also a clear vertical cylinder and floating ball inside) for MIG and my limited TIG experience.  There's nothing wrong with a standard regulator, but a floating ball will let you know really quick that you forgot to cut off the torch's gas valve, that you have a leak, etc.
Reply:Definitely go with the floating ball.
Reply:the floating ball is the one I always use, they are trying to make them cheaper and cheaper.wboldenMiller Shopmaster 300Miller Syncrowave 250Miller Thunderbole 250/150 AC-DCMiller Weldpack 140 w/autosetMiller S-22 WirefeederLincoln 255 xt Mig welderLincoln 216 Mig welderVictor,Smith and Harris OA7X 12 JET BANDSAW
Reply:Thanks everyone for the feedback.Would this be a decent one?http://cgi.ebay.com/HTP-Argon-CO2-Mi...item20b74c4d3corhttp://cgi.ebay.com/Argon-CO2-Mig-Ti...item2ea4d917c5
Reply:Originally Posted by jpcjguyThanks everyone for the feedback.Would this be a decent one?http://cgi.ebay.com/HTP-Argon-CO2-Mi...item20b74c4d3corhttp://cgi.ebay.com/Argon-CO2-Mig-Ti...item2ea4d917c5
Reply:Originally Posted by jpcjguyThanks everyone for the feedback.Would this be a decent one?http://cgi.ebay.com/HTP-Argon-CO2-Mi...item20b74c4d3corhttp://cgi.ebay.com/Argon-CO2-Mig-Ti...item2ea4d917c5
Reply:I have had both, the floating ball is nice. And you can usually use it for more than one gas. (Mine does He, Ar, Ar+CO2, etc.) The gauge meters measure cfh based on pressure through an orifice and usually for one or two types of gas.
Reply:victor makes top quality flow meters.  They are pricey vs. competion but they will litteraly out last you.  They are repairable as well (parts availibility),  I notice that around here all hospitals use victor regulators for their gases.   When it _REALLY_ counts....Smith is also decent enough.  Its what Miller now uses (Victor is now owned by Thermodyne - makers or rival welding equipment).  If you use google you can find really good deals on Smith regulators.  They are a bit bulkier than Victor, but often at nearly 1/2 the cost.  I sold my last two Victors with other welders... So I'm Smith only right now.  I can say I got excellent customer support with Smith's Mixers.  Even though I was doing some odd things, they helped me out when they should probably have hung up on me.  Good people from all that I can tell.https://weldingsupply.securesites.co...:X:H2051A-580HI believe most of what HTP sells is import - not necessarily from China.  Used to be "Italian" (years ago).  Might make it difficult to get parts.   If your careful, shouldn't be an issue for a hobbyist.Last edited by con_fuse9; 08-18-2011 at 10:44 PM.Con Fuse!Miller Dynasty 350Millermatic 350P-Spoolmatic 30AMiller Multimatic 200Hypertherm PowerMax 1000G3Miller Maxstar 200DX
Reply:Originally Posted by con_fuse9victor makes top quality flow meters.  They are pricey vs. competion but they will litteraly out last you.  They are repairable as well (parts availibility),  I notice that around here all hospitals use victor regulators for their gases.   When it _REALLY_ counts....Smith is also decent enough.  Its what Miller now uses (Victor is now owned by Thermodyne - makers or rival welding equipment).  If you use google you can find really good deals on Smith regulators.  They are a bit bulkier than Victor, but often at nearly 1/2 the cost.  I sold my last two Victors with other welders... So I'm Smith only right now.  I can say I got excellent customer support with Smith's Mixers.  Even though I was doing some odd things, they helped me out when they should probably have hung up on me.  Good people from all that I can tell.https://weldingsupply.securesites.co...:X:H2051A-580HI believe most of what HTP sells is import - not necessarily from China.  Used to be "Italian" (years ago).  Might make it difficult to get parts.   If your careful, shouldn't be an issue for a hobbyist.