Just wondering from those that do their own work what gas you run. Most research I've done show the main 3 gasses c100 c25 and c10. I want to know what's best for frame welds and putting my 4 link together. And if anyone knows some costs that would be awesome, just got my new welder and never had to buy gas.
co2 argon mix straight co2 will penetrate more cause argon is in there to help with splatter but cools the weld more buy lessing the ark in the gas
I run straight CO2. Cheap and it works for my welding style. Argon/CO2 mix is good too that can be used with mild steel wire to weld stainless and mild steel but I don't weld enough stainless to warrant the cost. Argon/CO2/helium is the preferred mix for stainless less using stainless wire but from the sounds of it you have no use for it.
yep 75/25 argon/co2 for me as well. I pay about $90 for my big bottle, but price will depend on where you live. I have to go to the next little city over to get it, and they charge more then in the Phoenix area. As far as it being your first bottle, it's going to cost more. usually at least $200 for one of the smaller bottles. The big bottle i have is closer to $350.
I have a medium sized bottle I think its 200cuft and its $40 to fill it at a local welding shop. Airgas was charging me $90
My 20 pound CO2 bottle is $16 to fill. I got over the slight increase of spatter quickly when the fill cost went down and the bottle size quadrupled when I switched from 75/25 or "stargon" as the local oxarc calls it.
Did a local search and found that I have an airgas where I live, I don't get out much and have only lived here a year, so I gave me a call. I asked for cost of a tank to lease and to buy. Cost to lease was 110$ a year for a 40cf bottle and 230 a year for a 125cf bottle but the cost to buy was only 5$ more for each size, so I'll be buying. And the cost to fill is 35$ for the 40cf and 78.38$ for the 125cf bottle. Not as bad as I thought. So my first cost is 115$ for a filled bottle and it's mine forever! Gonna start with a 40cf bottle then when needed I'll go to a bigger bottle when more funds are available.
That 40 cf tank would piss me right the fawk off. My 20 lb bottle holds 175 cf so its half the cost to fill and just shy of 4 times the gas.
I could be mistaken and it could be a 40lb bottle Guy said they were the 2 most common bottles... Like I said new at buying this stuff, but not new at using it
If i you were talking to him about 75/25 then it was a 40 cf bottle bottle which is under 2 ft tall. It is a common size.
That's the size I'd like to start with, even if I was pushin 20cfh a 40cf bottle would last 2 hours of continuous welding. That should be good for starters.
2 hours unless there is a breeze so you have to turn the flow up, you have a pin hole leak or just forget to turn the bottle off when you go in for lunch. Truth is I don't know anyone that ever stayed with a small bottle. Not saying you should go buy a 500 cf bottle but somewhere in the middle will make you happier in the long run. I started out with a 40 cf 75/25 bottle years ago and it sucked going to the welding shop every couple of days. I'm not preaching co2 because 75/25 is bad. Truth is there is a little less spatter to clean up but it costs way more and doesn't get as good of penetration. If you are going to run a 110v machine you're a fool to use mix since you'll need all the help you can get.
Never said I would stay with that bottle, just something to start with. I will end up with a bigger bottle just need something small while I'm in the garage. 100% of welder a I know started with one and keep one for backup. As for a 110 machine it worked awesome before my shop burned down, not my fault, neighboring shop caught on fire... Specs on the machine are up to 1/4 inch as of now I don't plan on more than that anyways, last Nhra qualified cage i built was on a 110 rig and passed beautifully. How about some constructive criticism for once.
