[Jack Ryan]

This entire years old thread is a solution in search of a problem. A single, moment of a rush of argon is completely inconsequential to welding. Anyone who doesn’t tap a pedal when first setting up, or checking for leaks after a tank swap is an alien. You can’t even begin to calculate the “lost cost” of argon for that momentary rush of gas.

It matters to some, for example if there are several welders doing spot welding. The surge happens at every trigger pull, not just at setup.

It is quite easy to calculate the loss of gas and it can approach the gas used during preflow so you get double preflow gas dumped every trigger pull. I am happy you and I are unaffected, but others are and calling them aliens doesn't make it less so.

Jack

[tweake]

This entire years old thread is a solution in search of a problem. A single, moment of a rush of argon is completely inconsequential to welding. Anyone who doesn’t tap a pedal when first setting up, or checking for leaks after a tank swap is an alien. You can’t even begin to calculate the “lost cost” of argon for that momentary rush of gas.

for me gas is expensive. so i usually try anything but its never really bothered me. i doubt its much usage. someone did work it out and i believe its sweet stuff all for general welding.
if i remember right there is special regulators (2stage?) to stop that gush of argon. but you might be spending more on parts that what you save.
with tack welding, the after flow will matter more. so i try to do the tacks fairly quickly so you do the next tack before the gas even stops.

i think the original question was with a possibly faulty regulator (or cheap one) that was set to high to start with.
one problem with lowering the pressure of the regulator, the flow meter will be inaccurate. might pay to use a torch end flow meter to set it.
also don't lower it so much you run into coverage problems. cheap regulators can have quite a lot of difference between set pressure and run pressure.

[taiwanluthiers]

I had a problem with the big gush of argon. Not only am I wasting gas that gush actually causes turbulence which isn't good.

I found a way to adjust my regulator. It's normally taped with a label but once undone there's a set screw that adjusts the output pressure.

My welder manufacturer actually recommends 15 psi for gas. It saves gas and eliminates turbulence.

Or a limiter in line works too, but personally I think 70 psi is too high.