Dual Flow Regulator for Purge ?

[zoama]

Do most people use a dual flow regulator for purging or what's your setup ?
Why are dual flow regulators so expensive compared to single ?

[zank]

I use the Smith one that you can get from Cyberweld for about $165. One line goes to the machine and the other goes to a manifold so that I can run multiple back purge lines. Works great.

[zoama]

>>>>><<<<<

[jakeru]

I think the main reason the dual flowmeters are so expensive is because they sell such relatively few of them - they are a specialty, low-volume product. They don't have economies of scale in manufacturing to bring the price down that the much more common single flowmeters have. There are also few models available.

That said, you can easily roll your own for cheap.

They are useful if you don't have a second inert gas tank. If you have a second tank, they are not necessary because you can just use two single outlet flowmeters on each tank to backpurge.

I "rolled my own" dual outlet flowmeter that had two outlets and two flow adjustment knobs / needle valves, and found worked very well and was inexpensive, but it only had one floating ball gauge that both flows would share. I bought a second $35 flowmeter, and a 1/4" NPT "Tee" fitting to build it.

Edit: I thought I posted it up here somewhere, but after a few minutes searching, couldn't find it. So here is a pic:


Hopefully it's self-explanatory, but let me know if you need any additional info on it.

I used the flowmeters parts sold by HTP (they are good quality, or you can buy a whole new flowmeter for about $35-$40 from them as well) and a 1/4" NPT Tee fitting that from Lowe's.
here are the parts added to the single flowmeter:


Here is what the single flowmeter looked like before the dual modification:

[zoama]

I found a solution for independent adjustment... I could have used a better looking tee but this works just fine.

[Welderooni]

I'm also looking at the Smith 33-50-580 Dual Flow Argon Regulator. Is is still working well and has anyone had any problems with it?

[Injected65]

I took the stock flowmeter off of the regulator and put a T fitting in and a small ball valve. It's touchy to set and I have to set it by feel, so I am planning on buying a second flowmeter like Zoama has pictured. Add in a shut off valve and you could set it and forget it.

Chris

[225]

Where to buy them from?

[zoama]

Where to buy them from?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Argon-CO2-fl...item4d003bbe38