Welding Tips and Tricks

I have stick welded some as well as Mig but always on machines already configured. I recently got a Lincoln MP210 and want to use as MIG. I am trying to get a clear answer on cost of welding with straight CO2 vs Argon CO2 mix. If you had 2 bottles of same capacity, filled each to capacity, one with CO2 and other mixed, would the cost difference be significant enough to consider and would either last longer given similar settings ? I am not concerned about the penetration differences, how clean the weld is, etc. Im looking for cost difference. Thanks for any help.

The issue is CO2 is sold by weight, mix is sold by CF. Prxair website lists a 20lb CO2 tank @ 175CF. 835psi full. Half the size of a 150 inert welding gas tank. Which is what my setup is

widowmaker wrote:I have stick welded some as well as Mig but always on machines already configured. I recently got a Lincoln MP210 and want to use as MIG. I am trying to get a clear answer on cost of welding with straight CO2 vs Argon CO2 mix. If you had 2 bottles of same capacity, filled each to capacity, one with CO2 and other mixed, would the cost difference be significant enough to consider and would either last longer given similar settings ? I am not concerned about the penetration differences, how clean the weld is, etc. Im looking for cost difference. Thanks for any help.

As far as cubic feet goes, they will last the same if the same equivalent volume since it's used in CFH, cubic feet per hour.

That being the case, a 20 lb tank of CO2 is approx 175 cu.ft. and is about $20-25 here.

Same volume 75/25 tank costs more for the tank and more to fill - fill is often about double the cost.

I use CO2 more often than mixed.

Thanks for the reply. So from this information it looks like i may as well go with the mix. Reading on other sites people say mix is mich more expensive but that does not seem to be the case. I just talked to my boss who has a larger tank like I plan on getting and to fill it qas $18.

Another question.. welding same material, is the CFH setting fairly close on the two ? Wondering if maybe one requires more or less therfore offsetting the cost difference.

widowmaker wrote:Thanks for the reply. So from this information it looks like i may as well go with the mix. Reading on other sites people say mix is mich more expensive but that does not seem to be the case. I just talked to my boss who has a larger tank like I plan on getting and to fill it qas $18.

Another question.. welding same material, is the CFH setting fairly close on the two ? Wondering if maybe one requires more or less therfore offsetting the cost difference.

Cfh is about the same. Filling my Argon CO2 ranges between 40 and 70 bucks out the door. About double the CO2 cost. If you are mobile, the aluminum CO2 tank had huge benefits.
If you can fill via a commercial account you will save a ton

soutthpaw wrote: Cfh is about the same. Filling my Argon CO2 ranges between 40 and 70 bucks out the door. About double the CO2 cost. If you are mobile, the aluminum CO2 tank had huge benefits.

Yep, just had my equipment over at a farmers house - brought the portable stuff with CO2 tank.
Easy to tote around.

Just in case it's relevant, for chemical or metallurgical reasons i cannot explain, co2 shielding gas runs hotter than argon-co2, so co2 alone will burn through thinner material. Also, co2 creates more spatter than argon-co2, which may mean more cleanup or post prep.