General welding questions that dont fit in TIG, MIG, Stick, or Certification etc.
Poleframer
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    Wed Feb 01, 2017 12:47 am

I would suppose inert gasses like argon and helium readily mix, people have been doing the Y connection for them for a long time, as does jody in one vid. Even argon Co2. I dont think an exact ratio is that important, to make C25 at exactly a 25-75 percent ratio is so important, if doing non code work is at hand. Anywhere from there to 50/50 works about the same.
I wouldnt venture to do a 98-2 percent argon oxy mix tho, or tri mix, I dont think you can get the pressures and flow rates that exacting.
For ME tho, only dealing with bottles of Co2 and argon for doing tig and mig, and being able to run an argon rich enough steel mix for spray transfer saves me from having to change regulators and bottles all around.
I'd sure like to know if there is a better Co2 regulator I can use, I dont need the high end of mine much, but under 5 cfh is just guesswork, one that would read down to 2 cfh would be handy.
clavius
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    Wed Sep 21, 2016 9:32 pm
  • Location:
    NE Massachusetts

I made a simple manifold of fittings, a tee, two valves and a couple of check valves as a precaution against gases intermingling where I did not want them to. With this set up, I have one bottle of argon and one of CO2 so I can have either or both for my MIG or TIG machines depending on which I'm using. I used these check valves:

https://www.mcmaster.com/#check-valves/=18j8jam

I set both regulators to the specified 50 psi and adjust the flows as necessary to get the mix I need. I'm doing only hobby grade stuff, so exact mixtures are not crucial to what I am doing. I set this up when I got my TIG machine as I share tanks between my welders and this let me add Argon to my MIG gas. The addition of Argon over straight CO2 for MIG was a revelation for me, It runs so much nicer.

The manifold is simple and effective. It did not cost much to make and has been really handy.

The valves are small ball valves, the yellow is CO2, black is Ar. The hoses on the bottom go to the reg/flowmeters on the bottles. So gas flows through the valve, then the check valves directly above then the tee. The black hose on top goes to whichever welding machine I happen to be using. I've been planning to add valves to swithc between machines as well, but am too lazy thus far. Anyhow, Here it is.

Image
cj737
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    Thu Sep 29, 2016 8:59 am

Get yourself a Western Quick Connect for the Hose to Machine. Simple and incorporates a check valve. I use them on all my machines and tanks. Allows immediate disconnect and swapping of tanks/gas between processes and machines.

Here's an example:
http://www.advancedtools.com/western-en ... gJDKvD_BwE
clavius
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  • Joined:
    Wed Sep 21, 2016 9:32 pm
  • Location:
    NE Massachusetts

cj737 wrote:Get yourself a Western Quick Connect for the Hose to Machine. Simple and incorporates a check valve. I use them on all my machines and tanks. Allows immediate disconnect and swapping of tanks/gas between processes and machines.

Here's an example:
http://www.advancedtools.com/western-en ... gJDKvD_BwE
This is an excellent solution. Thanks!
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