Welding Tips and Tricks

I recently purchased a Hobart 210 MIG machine. I wanted the option to use CO2 gas but the manual states the supplied flow regulator (made by Smith) must not be used with CO2. The manual then states to use regulator part number 212 492 for straight CO2. Contacted Hobart (Miller) who told me this is a Miller part number. Come to find out this part number is obsolete, replaced by 31-50-320. The local Airgas supplier told me to just use the original regulator with an adapter, but after reading many posts about freezing and destroying the regulator I'm reluctant to do that. Cyberweld sells two apparently identical Smith regulators. Same description and price but one is listed for Argon/CO2 the other for CO2 with different tank connections. I contact Smith to inquire what the differences are between the two, still haven't heard. What does the CO2 regulator have that the standard one doesn't? I could spend the $100 to find out, or just give up on the CO2 option.
Thought I'd share this as I'm sure others have had a similar situation.

I've used the adaptor for regulators that won't get ruined. I actually wrecked one that I wasn't supposed to use for co2.

But this is what I use now. $35 shipped. http://www.usaweld.com/CO2-Welding-Flow ... 20-co2.htm

Smith returned my email but never really answered my question about the difference between the two regulators. Thanks for the link Dave. I'm undecided if I'm going to invest in the CO2 option.

Back in my HoFart Secret Tester days, I drove one of those regulators.
It was made by an ITW Manufacturer.
I was told by a ITW employee the grade of brass used on those regulators will not survive Co2 exposure over time.
HoFart was less than happy with my report, even using C-25, that regulator leaks like a screen door from the high pressure side.
The manufacturer eliminated thread sealant from the tank nipple to the regulator body, and they damn sure couldn't cut threads to save their azz. Over a 4 week period the regulator/nipple thread vibrated loose.

Use care on Co2 gas/brass exposures. Co2 corrodes.

Franz© wrote:Back in my HoFart Secret Tester days, I drove one of those regulators.
It was made by an ITW Manufacturer.
I was told by a ITW employee the grade of brass used on those regulators will not survive Co2 exposure over time.
HoFart was less than happy with my report, even using C-25, that regulator leaks like a screen door from the high pressure side.
The manufacturer eliminated thread sealant from the tank nipple to the regulator body, and they damn sure couldn't cut threads to save their azz. Over a 4 week period the regulator/nipple thread vibrated loose.

Use care on Co2 gas/brass exposures. Co2 corrodes.

Same reason they don’t use brass fittings for any carbonated pop equipment. When it breaks down the brass it causes toxic fountain pop.

Thanks everyone, I'm going to wait on CO2 for now. What's frustrating is the fact that I can't get a satisfactory answer from a manufacturer about their own product.

A36 wrote:Thanks everyone, I'm going to wait on CO2 for now. What's frustrating is the fact that I can't get a satisfactory answer from a manufacturer about their own product.

You can pretty much figure on going through the rest of your life planning on NOT getting a satisfactory answer from a manufacturer about their own product.

It's one of many results of the computer driven business model that says all product information any customer may need is on a screen some twich with a hunk of plastic in her ear can read.
It goes along with cutting the LWS out of the transaction and replacing him with a lardo in jammies with a phone who has never seen a welder, and offering customers reduced packing & shipping on a 1# sample of rod or wire.

The supply end of welding has become too monopolized and run by MBA creatures, and it will get worse as time goes on. I've been told there is no value in having knowledgable people on staff, google replaced the need for that.
You want to have real fun, ask the gas person at the LWS if they can mix you up a bottle of C-40 because you need more cooling.