Ran out of gas yesterday, so i`m going to get some more.

I`ve been using co2 since i started as this is what my dad used to use when he was welding. But i was wondering whats the difference between co2 and argon and would i be better with argon?

Is one better for one type of application?

thanks,mike

Use argon, a bit more expensive, but a better weld.

I switched over 10years ago and have never looked back

 

Sorry, should have said that you use pure argon for stainless steel and and argon mix for steel.

You want something like argoshield lite

 

thanks mate - anyone else have opinions on this?

 

the name 'argoshield light' seems to spring to mind :hangloose

 

Welding gas

I know a bit about weldin but I need some help with the VW bit!

Shield gasses are there to keep the oxygen out while the metal is molten. Water is bad as is any other impurity so I am cleaning everything off with a sander/ grinder just prior to welding. I am using flux cored mig wire (which creates shield gases as it burns) plus CO2/ Argon mix (Argo shield) from a bottle as any wind blows the gas away and welding any where but horizontal means the CO2 sinks and the Argon rises away from the nozzle.

I've found Machine Mart the cheapest for the small bottles.

Can any one recomend whether to make repair plates and repair door skins etc or just bite the bullet and buy a new skin as it ends up better?

Ta

 

I wouldn't use flux cored mig wire if you paid me, it's shite and makes a dirty weld (MIG) even worse!

 

i`m a bit new to this - is there different types of wire available for mig? i.e. the flux cored one which produces gas and another which doesn`t?

 

Best to use argoshield lite or equivalent for bodywork, will give you a better drier and non porous surface than CO2

 

as above, I tend to avoid co2, even though "my mate can get bottles from the pub for nowt". I get my argoshieldlight through a boc agent, but it's a little pricey for the one or two bottles I use a year.

Personaly, I also avoid gassles wire and those disposable bottles.

use repair panels wherever poss, it'll save loads of time, but be prepared to trim and fettle as needed

 

as above, I tend to avoid co2, even though "my mate can get bottles from the pub for nowt". I get my argoshieldlight through a boc agent, but it's a little pricey for the one or two bottles I use a year.

Personaly, I also avoid gassles wire and those disposable bottles.

use repair panels wherever poss, it'll save loads of time, but be prepared to trim and fettle as needed

Spot on -i've been welding VW's for over 10 years and i'd offer you the same advice as redhouse53

 

well, i think i`ll get some of the argon light gas tomorrow and give that a go

where do you get the Boc bottles from - do you have to have an account or something?- i`ve only come across the disposable ones.

thanks,
mike

 

yeah you do need an account, the welding shop near me are agents, but that's north wales!

try their website for local agents, as I said though it is a little pricey, but I tend to use size y bottles wich are huge and last for ages.

If your using small disposables, you may need a new regulator to be compatibe with commercial cylinders, this in turn may need adapting to fit your gas pipe depending on your welder. let me know if you need pics of mine

just found an old statement, cylinder rental is £55 a year and I think about £45 a refill

email at custserv@boc.com

hope this helps

 

mig welding

hi i've been using Co2 gas for more than 25 year i have also used argosheild and apart from using more welding tips due to Co2 buring hotter the quality of weld i can produce is the same i'll stick with Co2 but everyone to there own i say

 

i ended up trying the argon light which did produce a smoother weld, but i found i had to turn the power down on the welder as i started blowing holes.

i also (bizarrely) managed to use one of those disposable bottles all up in one morning of welding - i didn`t do loads - just a bit of practice with the new gas then welded my sill in. not sure if it was leaking or it uses itself up quicker?

was going to change back to co2 becauase of this but went back to the shop and they only had argon left so back on that - i`ll see how long this bottle lasts.

i also asked about the accounts with BOC as the shop does this, but at the moment it`d work out a bit much for me to afford at the moment. - i think it came out at about £150 to get the account started as i`ll need a new regulator and connector too - then the inital outlay to hire the bottle and obviously to fill it up.

 

try air products i found them cheaper and they do a gas called
ferromaxx7 which is 48% co2 48% argon+2% 02 has i build in reg
on the cylinder. And the rental is charged on daily rate around 27p a day+the gas filling charge