Straight argon

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i'm extremely new to welding, and i am enjoying welding up some tools and things with my lincoln 140c with flux core.  i have a tank of straight argon laying around and i have heard you can weld steel with it.  Do I need another regulator for it though?thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by mattyv7i'm extremely new to welding, and i am enjoying welding up some tools and things with my lincoln 140c with flux core.  i have a tank of straight argon laying around and i have heard you can weld steel with it.  Do I need another regulator for it though?thanks
Reply:100% argon is used to weld steel, but using tig not mig. 100% argon will not work on steel with mig. You need a mixed gas like 75/25 to do steel with mig.As far as the reg, yes it will work on the 100% argon cyl, just as it would with 75/25. They both use the same valve threads. If you choose to use 100% CO2 instead of 75/25, you would need another reg or an adapter that converts the reg to the threads on the CO2 cylinder.If you have no use for the 100% argon, you can usually just swap out the cylinder for one filled with 75/25 at most welding supply's and just pay for the gas. Even though you are "throwing away" the argon, it will be cheaper than getting a 2nd cylinder. If for some reason you need the 100% argon, then your only choice really is to get a 2nd one filled with gas for the mig..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Self shielded flux core wire is ran without gas, so just hook up the power and weld away.Get some solid wire, then you will need a gas mix like described.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:yeah i have been using flux core but i wanted to try out some solid wire with gas.  i'll get the c25, thanks guys
Reply:Originally Posted by mattyv7and i am enjoying welding up some tools and things with my lincoln 140c
Reply:You can use pure argon but it isn't recommended. The bead will look OK but it will have a very narrow profile and will not penetrate properly. C25 is the way to go unless you plan on doing thicker stuff. C25 is the best for sheet metal and up but CO2 will give you a little more heat if you are working with material 1/8 to 1/4 which is the top end for a 110 volt welder. I used CO2 for years with great success and it is cheaper then C25.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:ok thanks.  The problem i was having with the argon was that it wasn't penetrating at all.  Well it did once, but for like half an inch.  The rest of the time it just beads up on top and isn't smooth at all.  But the underside of the steel is getting discolored.  It was only 14 or 12 gauge steel and when i swapped back to flux core it welded it (relatively) beautifully
Reply:[QUOTE=DSW;374253]100% argon is used to weld steel, but using tig not mig. 100% argon will not work on steel with mig. You need a mixed gas like 75/25 to do steel with mig./QUOTE]I would have to disagree with you about 100% argon not being able to weld steel with MIG, however, I also have to qualify that, by saying that you need a decent MIG setup to do so, and the reason that I disagree with you is that I have used 100% argon for about 10 years welding mild steel, stainless and Aluminium. You will however need a lot more voltage than usual than using an argon/Co2 mix and your welds will have less penetration, the bead will stick up higher and the weld puddle won't flow as well.  But it all depend on what thickness steel you are welding and your MIG capabilites(both machine and yours). I used a 225amp 240 Volt Unimig and had to go to the higher voltages and amperages to get reasonable results. If you have a small MIG such as a 120-180amp machine then I would agree that you should change the gas as it probably won't work, your machine won't have the grunt to do it and your welds will not be very structurally strong. If you have a small MIG then your duty cycle will also be against you using the higher voltages. Even with the MIG I was using, the higher voltages took it's toll. My last job I did was a 10mt by 12mt Carage and carport, welding the frames out of 100mm x 50mm x 2.5mm RHS all using 100% Argon. Had to repair the MIG twice and got rid of it in the end after I finished the job, as it was on it's last legs. I now have a much more powerfull MIG but use a 92% argon %5 Co2 and 3% O  mix, ( I don't weld Stainless or Ally anymore) and the welds are nice and smooth with plenty of penetration and I don't use as high a voltage as the welds are nice and hot.Your current regulator should work and you don't need gas if you are using flux cored wire.Solid wire with gas should give you a cleaner weld as well. Just my 2 cents worth.Miller Auto Invision 456 + S-62 wire feederC6240B1 Gap bed lathe16 ft3 air compressor16 speed pedestal drillHafco BS-912 Bandsaw
Reply:thanks! that was very helpful
Reply:http://content.lincolnelectric.com/p...ture/c4200.pdf "SOUTHPAW" A wise person learns from another persons mistakes;A smart person learns from their own mistakes;But, a stupid person.............never learns.
Reply:I found for 16 GA. stuff that's ornamental the argon keeps it cooler and can weld longer beads ...without distortion...not as good of penetration on heavy stuff ....but it still cooks the thin sheet and tube pretty good and flux core don't do to good on the thin stuff ....except tacking but look out you will blow holes with it though or the sheet will evaporate LOL. I ran a 180 and couldn;t think about turning it up on thin stuff so you may get some penetration out of that 140 on thin stuff but not on heavier stuff.Lincoln 225 Tombstone,Miller Big 20,Hobart 180,150' Argon,A/D hobart hood 22 Ton Log splitter,79 F350 dump eats 4.75 TONS and still turns cutters,grinders,And a  Hypertherm POWERMAX 30
Reply:ok cool, i'll have to try some thinner stuff and see how it does
Reply:[quote=Ed.;374561] Originally Posted by DSW100% argon is used to weld steel, but using tig not mig. 100% argon will not work on steel with mig. You need a mixed gas like 75/25 to do steel with mig./QUOTE] and the reason that I disagree with you is that I have used 100% argon for about 10 years welding mild steel
Reply:Ed I understand what you are saying. The problem is the guys stopped reading after you said "yes"... They got an answer they wanted to hear and skipped the rest about a small machine not being able to do this well.You will however need a lot more voltage than usual than using an argon/Co2 mix and your welds will have less penetration, the bead will stick up higher and the weld puddle won't flow as well. ... I used a 225amp 240 Volt Unimig and had to go to the higher voltages and amperages to get reasonable results. If you have a small MIG such as a 120-180amp machine then I would agree that you should change the gas as it probably won't work, your machine won't have the grunt to do it and your welds will not be very structurally strong.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWEd I understand what you are saying. The problem is the guys stopped reading after you said "yes"...
Reply:Sorry I wasn't really refering to you woi2ld. I can understand why you might think it was in responce to your post. I understood why you wanted the info. That use sort of falls under one of those "advanced" techniques. I wonder though if you have to crank up the volts to get this to work well, if you aren't going to end up defeating your purpose. My guess is that the flow will probably be about the same as you would normally use. You're shielding the weld, not really physically cooling it. It's the way the arc behaves in the gas envelope that will make the diffence..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:[quote=woi2ld;375221] Originally Posted by Ed.Ed , what's a good psi settings on the regulator  for 100% argon.........gotta try it....i need less penetration and less heat on certain bodypanels.
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWEd I understand what you are saying. The problem is the guys stopped reading after you said "yes"... They got an answer they wanted to hear and skipped the rest about a small machine not being able to do this well.It's like so many other advanced techniques like DC alum tig and doing thicker material with little 110v migs. A little technical info is a dangerous thing if they don't actually understand whats going on. Most don't have the background and experience to accomplish these sort of  things properly. They are looking for a cheap out most times, to avoid getting the right equipment for their skill level. It's sort of like all the noob's reading Billy Mac's posts on DC alum tig. He can do it because he's got the skills and time under the hood, but someone with no experience and a little 110v HF DC scratch start tig's got no chance what so ever.Usually it's best to keep things in black and white, yes or no, for most basic questions, even if it's not 100% correct. There's no way someone new to welding will be able to learn to do it right, if they are fighting the wrong gas at the same time they attempt to learn the basics.