TIG Regulator -- Read the Fine Print

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I was working on a argon regulator today for a friends machine, fixing a leak at the NPT inlet.  I learned two things I didn't know before.  1) You've got to read the fine print.  Top of the ball?  I've always been using the middle 'equator' of the ball.. After all that's the part of the ball that touches the measurement lines.2) This old Victor inert gas regulator can be used for Argon, CO2 or Mix.  And for each gas use there is a different scale for how much gas flow occurs.  All three scales are provided 60 degrees of orientation apart, depending on where on the tube you are looking.  You've just got to be careful that you are looking at the correct scale when taking a reading.  (OUch... Now you tell me..)  You can disassemble the plastic sleeve and reorient the inner scale tube so your scale of choice is facing front easily, but I never knew they were different.Did you guys know this already?  Can you use this tip to help you save a couple of dollars per tank of gas?  I just paid $35 for 125 Cu Ft of Argon.  zip. Attached Images
Reply:yep....basic welding 101. worthy post though.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:By jbmprods;yep....basic welding 101
Reply:Originally Posted by Bob the WelderBy jbmprods;X2.  But you would be surprised at the number of welders who don't know it.
Reply:For what it's worth...I didn't know
Reply:I too have been guilty of reading the middle of the ball.  My thought too was where it touched the tube, not much diff flow wise, but there is a correct and incorrect way of doing just about anything.  Thanks for the welding 101 lesson.  it is amazing how many of us self taughts are close but no cigar when it comes to the technical stuff.  Glad I read this thread.BobI'm spending my Kids inheritance, I dont like him that much anyway!!!!!!Enuff tools to do the job, enough sense to use em.Anybody got a spare set of kidneys?  Trade?
Reply:Better check with your reg manufacturers first. The Smith's read from the center of the ball. It may vary between different brands, so check out the instructions, refering to the regs you own."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I'm with Stick-man.Smith is "Center of the Ball".With some of the cheap Chi-Com knock offs, it's "is the ball in the tube".Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.
Reply:Some "floating ball" flowmeters read at the top of ball, others read at the middle, and others yet read at the bottom of the ball.  I have two different brands of floating ball flowmeter, and I determined that they both read at bottom of the ball.  They don't always have printed on them how to read them, either.IMO, it can be significant at low flow ranges especially.  The top vs bottom can make the difference between whether you really are getting 5 cfh and 10 cfh flow rate.