Confused over which gas for welding...

[sandman2234]

I don't do much if any mig welding, but have tried several different mixes of gases with tig. Each has it's own different pro's and cons. The best welds I have gotten was with Helium as the gas of choice, but it is a little expensive to play with for the casual welder. I had a deal with a national welding supply company to do some work for them, and one of the benefits was "free gases" as long as I supplied the bottles. I burnt up a lot of gas while that deal lasted, but as the old saying goes, all good things must end...
I general use straight argon, because it is just too easy to keep track of.
David from jax

 

[SpecElim]

The most typical Wire for MIG ER 70S-6. Your machine is capable of running .023-.035 Solid Core wire but for working on thinner materials such as your hot rod .023 would be the best bet. The smaller the wire the less amps you will need, therefore allowing you to weld thinner materials. I know if you get it from Machine and Welding Supply Co. it is called shieldpro 101. The 101 part should be the same no matter what company it is.

You should also run your gas at around 15-25 Cu.Ft. depending on the air movement in the area you are welding.

 

[BrianR]

I use .030 solid wire and straight CO2 for MIG welding with my Handler 120 and straight Argon for TIG with the TigWave 250.

Brian Redick
Piqua, OH

2003 Kubota BX2200
J.D. Flex 71 planter
J.D. 290 planter
Howse 14" bottom plow
48" disc harrow

 

[JRS]

I have a Miller MIG welder and currently have a bottle of CO2 & argon blend. I have a bottle of straight argon that my son left at my house and am wondering if it is OK to use straight argon when I run out of the blend. The argon has been sitting in my garage for about the last 5 years and might as well use it if there is no problem with doing it.
Thanks, John

 

[yomax4]

In spite of what was posted prviously, You will not like your Mig Welds done with Straight Argon. Try it and let us know what you think. Even the little
115v Mig units will like CO2 better than Straight Argon..

Try It.

 

[RPW]

Straight CO2 for MIG will produce a hotter weld with deeper penetration. One side effect is a bit more splatter. Argon/CO2 is the most common for MIG and if you're doing overhead helium or helium mix will aid in a better weld. I TIG with straight argon and when my bottle of mix runs out on the MIG I'm thinking of trying some straight CO2.

 

[BrianR]

If you can get your MIG welder to do "spray" transfer, then C02 is relatively smooth and spatter free. But it takes a 200 amp or higher welder to do this. My handler 120 won't do it, but the Hobart Beta-Mig 250 will.

One advantage to the straight CO2 is that it works great on not so clean material. Rust, mill scale, oil, etc. It tends to burn right through it without weakening the weldment too much.

 

[yomax4]

Straight CO2 is a common Gas for Spray Arc using 71T1 Cored Wire but to achieve True Spray with S6 wire you need 90% Argon,Balance CO2 or Higher Argon like a 95/5. This gets complicated. CO2 is all they use in Europe because most of the Welders are designed to run it. It will save you a lot of money here too if you mainly do repair or build stuff at home. The fancy gas comes into play when the welds have to be a certain dimension as per a certain Spec. I use Very Fancy gas because I don't have to pay for it but if I did, I would use CO2 and spray my parts before welding with Anti Spatter and put $50.00 in the Bank everytime I need a tank.