MIG Welding: Which Gas, and How Big a Cylinder? (2 Viewers)

[cruisermatt]

there's no real cost difference.

 

[geocrasher]

The cost difference between CO2 and AR/CO2 here is about $300.

 

[Broski]

The cost difference between CO2 and AR/CO2 here is about $300.

For that gas or the bottle ?

 

[geocrasher]

I can swap my 20 pound CO2 bottle for about $45.

AR/CO2: 55cuft cylinder 268.80 + gas 26.23+tax out the door = 328.57

I'm paying a lot for the cylinder itself. I can trim $100 off that if I buy one on Amazon, which I'm fairly hesitant to do.

 

[Broski]

But you only have to buy the tank once
May as well get it out of the way.

 

[e9999]

if you already have the CO2 bottle, just go with that IMO if you just want to practice your MIG. It's a cheap way to get started. Yes, the welds may not look as nice, but you may get better penetration so it's not all bad.

 

[PIP]

You do realize that a 20 cu ft cylinder can be held in one hand and is good for about 5 minutes of welding right?

EVERYONE buys a used tank and exchanges them. Look at Marketplace and Craigslist. You should have 20 to choose from for around $100.

EDIT: I exagurated. 20Cu ft will last 30-45 minutes.

 

[aztoyman]

I've bought from gas cylinder source. They also sell recertified ones for less. Then you just exchange it

 

[aztoyman]

CO2 is still fine, especially since you have the tank. Lots of good suggestions here for if/when you make the switch.

 

[geocrasher]

@aztoyman and @e9999 That is what I needed to hear. Thank you. and @PIP had no idea about that cylinder size. So yeah, CO2 for now, and then I'll buy a nice big 125cu ft cylinder later.

Once again, I sincerely appreciate all this. I'm going to stop thinking about it for now

 

[Broski]

 

[aztoyman]

Cool video. I haven't run CO2 in a while but I did have to change my settings and technique. Also used spatter guard (spray). Used it when I had a small machine.

 

[BadReligion]

@geocrasher You were me a few year ago. At the time I was tired of sh*tty HF welder stick welds, so I bought a TIG/MIG machine (Miller Multimatic 220), which required two bottles. I wanted to save money on bottles/gas so I bought a 20 cu ft bottle each of Argon and Argon/C02. At my local welding supply shop, you can own the bottles, and if you upgrade in size, you just pay the difference. I quickly realized that those small bottles didn't last long, especially when practicing. The more I welded, the better I got, and I started really enjoying it. I also started making all kinds of stuff so I went from the 20s to 40s, then 60s, and finally ended up at 120 cu ft bottles. Those seem to last a while, at least for me. Now a bottle exchange is less than the cost of other consumables I am usually purchasing.

The only issue I currently have is trying to find a reasonably priced bottle of Trimix for occasional stainless MIG. I found that the 75/25 mix with FC E308L works ok for that application. Better than me trying TIG upside down on my back.

 

[AirheadNut]

Good luck with reasonably priced trimix! It will be expensive anywhere due to the cost of helium. I go through quite a bit of it at work welding stainless tubing, we run 307 cu ft bottles and the exchange price is usually just under $600. Stainless can be welded with C25, but loses some of its corrosion resistance. I also weld quite a bit of stainless to mild steel using regular ER70-S6 wire and C25, but those parts all get powder coated so the corrosion resistance is a non issue.