How far do you open an Argon tank valve?

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It's a simple stupid question. O2 tanks have double seals and should be opened fully to prevent leaks. Acet tanks should only be opened partway to allow easy and rapid closing if need be. Does an argon tank have the same valve system as an O2 bottle? Or can it be opened a half turn and call it good? Is there some type of standard rule to compressed cylinders, all except Acet should be opened fully? Or does it vary by gas type?
Reply:I open my Argon just enough to get flow.......Never had any problems?I have been told to open them all the way but I never do.....Works for me?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Argon valves have a back seat similar to the oxygen as you described. They should be opened fully, which takes the high cylinder pressure off of the stem packing.
Reply:I too only open my argon tanks enough to get flow. Can't say I've ever been told different.
Reply:They are a double-seated valve like oxygen, but leakage is rare enough that I don't bother opening them all the way.My typical cause of gas loss is forgetting to turn them off.....
Reply:Shielding gases & oxygen wide open, fuel gases 1-1/2 turns.REAL TRUCKS DON'T HAVE SPARK PLUGS
Reply:Got anutter question When regulators are not connected to you open them fully?I had someone mention that they are supposed to be opened if not on a cylinder or was it closed?never crossed my mind because they have always been on the cylinderEd 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 was only ever formally trained on Oxy/Acet. And on that, the shutdown procedure was to close tank valves, bleed off gas, then back off the reg adjustments till there was no pressure on the spring in the reg. I would THINK you would store a reg the same way.
Reply:i open my argon tank all the way on my mig welder i've never had any  problems with it all the way open
Reply:I don't believe that you need to open the valve all the way for it to seal. It just makes no sense to make valves like that when you don have to. But perhaps it was true once upon a time.Valves that go onto industrial high pressure gas cylinders, like the ones Sherwood makes, have o-rings on the valve stem. So you just need to open enough to get the gas you want. Oxygen, argon, helium etc are all the same. http://www.sherwoodvalve.com/assets/...ve_10_2009.pdfOpening all the way will just cause more wear to the o-rings. Not that it will make a difference though. Attached ImagesLast edited by Pete.S.; 04-01-2013 at 06:33 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Got anutter question When regulators are not connected to you open them fully?I had someone mention that they are supposed to be opened if not on a cylinder or was it closed?never crossed my mind because they have always been on the cylinder
Reply:3/4 - 1 turn.
Reply:All cylinders EXCEPT FUEL GAS are to be backseated. If they are not, there is a possible gas loss due to leaking. Here's info from LINDE. Second paragraph.http://www.lindecanada.com/en/aboutb...regulators.phpESAB, argon regulator usage. To connect, line 44. Open the cylinder valve slowly a fraction of a turn.When the cylinder pressure gauge pointer stopsmoving, OPEN VALVE FULLY.http://www.esabna.com/literature/Gas...B_F-15-308.pdfhttp://www.esabna.com/EUWeb/OXY_handbook/589oxy3_11.htm
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1All cylinders EXCEPT FUEL GAS are to be backseated. If they are not, there is a possible gas loss due to leaking.
Reply:Suppliers don't want to tell you to open fully; they sell more gas that way.
Reply:Here is what Victor has to say...http://victortechnologies.com/IM_Upl...5)_May2008.pdfa quotation..."6. On all cylinders, except acetylene, open the valve completelyto seal the valve packing."" 7. On acetylene cylinders, open the valve 3/4 of a turn and nomore than 1-1/2."
Reply:On my argon co2 tank all you have to do is just lift a lever up and it opens the tank all the way. Its one of those smart top cylinders from air liquard.1 270 wia weldmatic mig welder1 Abel arc welder1 188 bossweld arc and tig welder1 cigweld comet o/a set
Reply:Just enough to get the gauge to register....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:about 1/2 turn or soBuy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Similar conversation from this year:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=268311One of the posts I made in that thread:Don't shoot the messenger! Recently I've participated in discussion on the "new" o-ring valves.I contacted Harrison Worldwide, here was my question:Specifically, which is correct for opening oxygen and other high pressure valves:1. Open all the way to seat the valve as many of us were trained for years.2. Open part way because new o-ring technology makes the old way unneeded.Thank you for your time clarifying this issue.
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1When regulators are not connected to you open them fully?
Reply:So how many actual 'turns' does it take to open an argon/co2 valve? "The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:I'm with Zap, just enough to get the gauge to register.-AaronJet 17.5" Drill Press1942 South Bend 16x84 Lathe1980s Miller 320A / BP --- 2013 Power Mig 2562012 Jet 7x12 Horizontal BandsawVictor O/A Setup
Reply:if I forget to close my valve when it was just cracked open a bit I would loose most of the tank over a few days, drop to ~500psi and then hold, but doing the same exact thing but with the valve fully opened and back seated and it would loose almost nothing, so to me from seeing this in my own shop I would say that it should be fully opened. if you never forget to turn it off then might not make that much difference for you but I think even in just a few hours you might be loosing some gas at leastmiller 330a bp TIGmiller dynasty 200DX TIGmillermatic 185 MIGthermal dynamics cutmaster 101 plasma cuttersnap-on YA5550 plasma cutterhypertherm powermax 30 plasma cutterbaileigh CS225 cold sawetc....
Reply:Originally Posted by Kavall..... back off the reg adjustments till there was no pressure on the spring in the reg. I would THINK you would store a reg the same way.I unload the regulators when Im done bleeding off the pressure ONLY because there could be a chance of damaging the diaphragm with pressure sitting on one side? I really don't want to screw up the regulator so I unload it......Have seen shops NEVER do this for years and their regulators still work? So do what your conscious tells you to do.....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock