Argon consumption

[Chuck_jkl]

I just got my PowerPro 205 and a small argon bottle 55cf (I think) a week ago. And I'm already running on fumes. I did have it flowing too much for the first few days but readjusted from 16 lpm to around 7.
I've been practicing every night maybe 10 minutes or so actually welding. Is this normal type consumption? If so i will have t o buy an extra bottle. Here the lws shops on sell 55cf anything bigger you have to lease and pay for the gas. It cost 200 for initial purchase then 40 to refill/swap. I believe it 130 per year for a 150cf plus gas. It seemed like the better way to go for mig but if tig cunsumes that much more it may be worth leasing.

Chuck

[Kempy]

Phone around to the local welding shops and ask what the biggest tank you can own without lease program or find a shop that does a lot of welding and see if they will give a tank and no lease with their tanks it will just be another one in there system most big welding shops use so much gas they done get charged for rental. If you lived closer I could help you.

[zoama]

55ft³ = 1557.4L/7=222.43 minutes

[dyethor]

You might want to check all your connections from the reg to the machine for leaks. Unplug the machine, turn on your gas, spray a little soapy water on the connections and fittings and see if there are any bubbles.

[Markcuda]

I have found many a leeks using this method.

[everlastsupport]

Turn the welders off, tank on, then back off. See if the needle sits there for hours or does down. If it goes down you have a leak.

At 14L the gas will go fast, if it is a 44 cf tank it will go fast as well.

[performance]

Realistically as high as you had it turned initially, would have drained most of your gas in the first hour. Even at the lower rate, the balance would have been drained in 2 hours. I never advise anyone to buy or lease anything smaller than a 125. It's not practical, unless it is a small portable job. I'm not sure.. but I'd convert the flow rate first, which is roughly x's 2. So 16 would have been 30 cu ft roughly of Ar per hour. So one hour would yield over half of the bottle gone. I don't see the bottle lasting for more than 4 or 5 hours of normal welding, including good pre/post flow time.

[everlastsupport]

And 125's run out fast for my taste, so if it's only a few dollars more and you are not lugging it around, bigger is better.

[SeanMurphy265]

You can also look at purchasing a new bottle online and swapping it for one at your LWS. The small bottles will burn up some $$$ quick! I use teflon tape with screw on fittings, and that helps. Use a small socket instead of a screw driver to tighten the hose clamps.

[Kempy]

That's welding you will in time spend more money on gas and consumables then the cost of the weld. Just try to find the little leaks is the hardest thing and if it sits for weeks at a time not been used that is a lot of gas. The forum has a lot of good ideas in finding problems.

[Trip59]

I've got a 125 and it runs out too fast for me, no leaks at all, post and preflow set as low as is practical, gas lens on 2 series CK torck, running 6-7LPM or so. I'm not in a position to buy more tanks right now, but after I move next year, I plan to set up a couple 300's or so, that way I don't have to worry about running out mid-job anymore. I may add another 125 this summer, rotating them out, filling as soon as is empty, that way I know I have a day's welding off to the side if I need.

[agent4573]

craigslist is your friend. Most of the time you can find empty acetalyne tanks and trade them in for argon or co2 tanks, just check with your welding shop first. Around here, full 300+ CF tanks come up every now and then for under 200 bucks.

[zoama]

55cf bottle would flow 7lpm for 3 hours 42 minutes. Get the biggest bottle you can buy.

[Chuck_jkl]

Well got some pricing and a rental bottle is 75.00 plus 15 environment tax or other. Doesn't matter what size. It cost 60 total to refill my small 55 bottle. The 330cf cost 120. I didn't have do pretty hard math that for price and convinience this was the way to go. Holy crap these things are heavy and hard to manipulate. But it probably last me more than 6 months

Thanks fellas for all your input

Chuck

[Trip59]

Dang... my 125 cost me $62 to fill a couple weeks back, I was scared to price out bigger after that. Hopefully things are better after the move, Mike's comments on costs down that way make me feel a little more optimistic than what's around me up here.

I sat down and figured it out, costs me $3 for every notch on the gauge. I have some friends I only charge materials cost, I was undercharging. Now it's $3 a line and a buck a rod for filler. Other folks get a much bigger number

[zoama]

Well got some pricing and a rental bottle is 75.00 plus 15 environment tax or other. Doesn't matter what size. It cost 60 total to refill my small 55 bottle. The 330cf cost 120. I didn't have do pretty hard math that for price and convinience this was the way to go. Holy crap these things are heavy and hard to manipulate. But it probably last me more than 6 months

Thanks fellas for all your input

Chuck

That's a very high price. A 330 here is $300 for a full bottle with 99 year lease (free lease renewal) and $60 for refills.

[Markcuda]

I bit the bullet and leased a 250 cubic foot(K size)tank for 99 years.

[Chuck_jkl]

Maybe i explain it wrong it cost me 230.00 for bottle gaz and one years rental. Then to fill it will be 102 this is all tax included. It seems pretty comparable

No

Chuck

[zoama]

Maybe i explain it wrong it cost me 230.00 for bottle gaz and one years rental. Then to fill it will be 102 this is all tax included. It seems pretty comparable

No

Chuck

It's not so bad when you explain it that way. Happy welding.

[everlastsupport]

craigslist is your friend. Most of the time you can find empty acetalyne tanks and trade them in for argon or co2 tanks, just check with your welding shop first. Around here, full 300+ CF tanks come up every now and then for under 200 bucks.

PraxAir will do it. They know you will come back to them. I have owners from them, a 390.

Note though, HP (high pressure) tanks only. Sometime you can get them to take an LP, but rare..