How much Ar for this?

[jake98]

Looks like more than half of my 80CF bottle is gone. I didn't flip it over yet to do the other side either. I did do about 15 min. of torch practice tho, with it set on 15 l/m the other night when I got it.. had it set at 7 for this truck bed cover.

 

[slowzuki]

Do you mean half your bottle's pressure is gone? Have you let it warm up after the gas was withdrawn? I got one with a bad valve once, tank was empty after first day, welding shop refunded my money.

 

[jake98]

No, it was pretty cold, all wet with condensation. I didn't think of that..

 

[yomax4]

The cold wont change the pressure all that much. ( not 1/2 a tank) Looking at this project, it looks like you must have had your gas turned up way too high or something. This amount of welding would hardly move the needle. You should check your gun o-rings too. Something is not right.

 

[jake98]

When I got it a couple days ago it read 1870 lbs., now it's at about 800. I spent some time experimenting (maybe 20 min.) with the flow at 15 l/min., before I converted the metric. I figured in the middle of the scale was probably close.. live and learn. The cover I'm making would have gone 3x as fast with the mig, I guess, but I wanted to try out the Everlast 200DX. I think I'll hold off on getting a spare tank until I know what I'm doing.

It doesn't matter that the tank is sideways with Ar, does it?

 

[yomax4]

When I got it a couple days ago it read 1870 lbs., now it's at about 800. I spent some time experimenting (maybe 20 min.) with the flow at 15 l/min., before I converted the metric. I figured in the middle of the scale was probably close.. live and learn. The cover I'm making would have gone 3x as fast with the mig, I guess, but I wanted to try out the Everlast 200DX. I think I'll hold off on getting a spare tank until I know what I'm doing.

It doesn't matter that the tank is sideways with Ar, does it?

Tank should be ok like that. I didn't realize you were Tig welding this project. In that case the gas consumption would be more than Mig because it takes longer to do a joint. 15 l/pm seems like it would be too high. You only need about 15 cfh. I don't know how to do the math but it seems like 15lpm is way more than 15cfh. If I remember the flow from my med gas gas, If you use lpm it would be more like 3-5 lpm for welding? Not sure. I would turn the gas down until you get porosity and then turn it up a litre or 2.

 

[Gary Fowler]

For TIG welding, you can set the flow by just holding the gun close to your cheek. If you feel a slight breeze, that is enough flow. You dont need it hissing out to get coverage when welding inside. If outside, set up a windbreak to keep from blowing away your argon shielding. 15 CFH is about the right flow rate and you would get about 5 hours of welding time. Be sure the gas is shut off each time you stop. If you plan to do a lot of TIG or MIG you need to get a larger bottle or get a spare tank.

 

[deereman75]

That tank sounds like it came with very low pressure. I think argon/o2 tanks come with around 3600 psi in them. Did you get that one used? If not, you might want to find a new lws.

 

[jake98]

That tank sounds like it came with very low pressure. I think argon/o2 tanks come with around 3600 psi in them. Did you get that one used? If not, you might want to find a new lws.

That's what I didn't want to hear, it was definitely under 2000.

 

[deereman75]

That's what I didn't want to hear, it was definitely under 2000.

Did you get the tank on craigslist or something, or was it from a lws. As I have said, if it was from a lws, try and get a free fill-up, or find a new lws.

 

[jake98]

I bought it from Airgas.

 

[deereman75]

I bought it from Airgas.

I would go in and tell them what happened, if they are half as good as my local air liquide, they will give you a free fill.

 

[jake98]

You're sure about the 3600? I'll bring it up next time I'm in there. Come to think of it, he said the cost was for the tank, and the gas was free on the first one, maybe it was somebody's returned tank.

 

[dstig1]

I think 2600psi is a more real number for a fresh fill, but you should get the opinions of the more experienced folks on that before lighting up your LWS. Maybe a search would do the trick?

 

[Willl]

I'm confused. Ar ? Argon ? looks like steel ?

 

[Gary Fowler]

Full tanks are around 2400-2600 PSI and pressure is never exactly the same. If yours had 1800 it wasnt fully filled but maybe that is why they gave you the first one free but only actually giving you 3/4 of a tank.

 

[deereman75]

I'm confused. Ar ? Argon ? looks like steel ?

He was tig welding it.

 

[deereman75]

Full tanks are around 2400-2600 PSI and pressure is never exactly the same. If yours had 1800 it wasnt fully filled but maybe that is why they gave you the first one free but only actually giving you 3/4 of a tank.

I cold have sworn that they were 3600. I will have to look it up.

 

[yomax4]

Another note on the cyllinder. Below the neck ring it is stamped into the tank 2200+ and a star. Or what ever the fill pressure should be. A plus and star mean hydrotest is good for 10 years. just a plus sign and it's 5 years. If I remember correctly the guys filled CO2 to 1800 and Argon to 2200. Anyway it is what it is and they probably wouldn't believe it was under filled because they fill about 20 at a time.

 

[deereman75]

Another note on the cyllinder. Below the neck ring it is stamped into the tank 2200+ and a star. Or what ever the fill pressure should be. A plus and star mean hydrotest is good for 10 years. just a plus sign and it's 5 years. If I remember correctly the guys filled CO2 to 1800 and Argon to 2200. Anyway it is what it is and they probably wouldn't believe it was under filled because they fill about 20 at a time.

Are o2 tanks filled higher? I am sure one of them was 3200 or 3600, maybe I was thinking of o2. Or maybe welders handbook was wrong.