Type of shielding gas used.

[dyethor]

Just a quick question. I looked around and haven't been able to find one mention of it. How many of you use CO2 for shielding gas on steel? Or better yet what type of shielding gas do you use for different types of metals?

I use CO2 for steel, and Argon/helium for aluminum and stainless steel.

[Cippee]

I use 75/25 on my bigger mig. I have a little baby mig and I use co2 to bump up its power a tad. When I weld alm. it's 100% argon and stainless is a tri mix.

[welderdude]

If you are using spray transfer instead of short circuit welding, use 98% argon 2% oxygen or 90% argon 10% co2. Trimix is 90% helium, 7.5% argon and 2.5% co2. I almost always use regular 75 25 for short circuit transfer on steel.

[jp2code]

I use my Arc machine whenever I want to weld mild steel. The DC TIG is only for stainless. I used an Argon/CO2 mix at one point, but I think it welds nicer with 100% argon.

[welderdude]

I use my Arc machine whenever I want to weld mild steel. The DC TIG is only for stainless. I used an Argon/CO2 mix at one point, but I think it welds nicer with 100% argon.

Are you mig welding with pure argon?

[jp2code]

Are you mig welding with pure argon?

MIG? Oh yeah! I forgot all about my MIG machine. It is tucked away in the corner of my garage and hasn't seen much use in a while. Maybe that was what I had that argon/co2 mixture for.

[Cippee]

I hoe you didn't use co2 with tig a no no. It eats the tungsten.

[jp2code]

I hoe you didn't use co2 with tig a no no. It eats the tungsten.

Oh, I probably did.

Sometimes, I feel like if I don't learn by my mistakes, I don't learn at all.

Thick forehead, or something like that.

[welderdude]

Oh, I see what you mean. I was getting a little scared at first because I know from playing around that MIGing steel with pure argon just doesn't work.

[SeanMurphy265]

J How many of you use CO2 for shielding gas on steel? I use CO2 for steel, and Argon/helium for aluminum and stainless steel.

CO2 is not the preferable shielding gas for mig welding. It works, but its more for times when your in a jam. Hobart sells a small CO2 tank with their passport 180, but they emphasize CO2 in a jam.

[dyethor]

I've been using it without any observable problems. I weld from 20 gauge to 1" steel. What makes it un-preferable?

[Jules The Great]

Does anyone have any experince with using pure argon on sheet metal? I have heard it was better/worked on sheet metal.

[geezer]

CO2 is not the preferable shielding gas for mig welding. It works, but its more for times when your in a jam. Hobart sells a small CO2 tank with their passport 180, but they emphasize CO2 in a jam.

Have to disagree with you on that,,,if you check out offshore manufacturers advertisements on mig welders they are refered to as CO2 welders,,,75/25 gas mixes are a western norm...not so in other parts of the world...CO2 is used extensivly there...It gives a hotter burn with more penetration,,,but it also has more splatter or BB's,,,75/25 and other mix's make it nicer...

Here is a website that explains it :http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/co2-mig-welder.html

[everlastsupport]

Have to disagree with you on that,,,if you check out offshore manufacturers advertisements on mig welders they are refered to as CO2 welders,,,75/25 gas mixes are a western norm...not so in other parts of the world...CO2 is used extensivly there...It gives a hotter burn with more penetration,,,but it also has more splatter or BB's,,,75/25 and other mix's make it nicer...

Here is a website that explains it :http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/co2-mig-welder.html

You're right. We use small CO2 for mobile welding or flux core if windy. Since we have a smaller tank of CO2. It welds a little like flux core.

Iron works shops (one I know) uses flux core and gas at the same time. No spatter, hot welds too.

It just is not as pretty all the time.

@Jules:

On the argon question. That would be for TIG welding, not MIG.

[Jules The Great]

Mike, not trying to argue but I had read it about MIG and thin sheet metal.

I will give it try later as I have both tanks, I will post an update later.

[everlastsupport]

Mike, not trying to argue but I had read it about MIG and thin sheet metal.

I will give it try later as I have both tanks, I will post an update later.

Read the whole thread. Co2 will burn hot. You can MIG with it. But I would not use it on sheet metal. Just posting you can MIG with straight Co2.

[Jules The Great]

Read the whole thread. Co2 will burn hot. You can MIG with it. But I would not use it on sheet metal. Just posting you can MIG with straight Co2.

I meant I would try with argon but this sums it up well, as I have argon and argon mix I will just use them as they were meant to be used.

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/welding-gas.htm