Welding Tips and Tricks

I bought a good flow meter for my MIG welder. The original unit from Lincoln was a pre set type.

What CFH do you members normally run at???

Standard indoor welding.....Lincoln Magnum 100 torch !!!

For MIG, even in calm air, I'm at least at 25 CFH. Since work buys my gas, I use 35.

BTW, I plan to post a "gas-saver" tip this week for TIG, once I get some pics. It'll apply a little bit to MIG.

I was just wodering if was such a thing as a gas saver for MIG !!!

Not really. What I've come up with reduces parisitic losses, such as losses through the line itself, and that big surge of gas you get when you hit the trigger/mash the pedal/open the torch valve.

Depending what I'm doing I usually run between 18 and 25. I of course have to buy my own gas so I save all I can. If you keep a shorter stickout whenever possible it helps you to be able to run a lower flow rate.

nickn372 wrote:Depending what I'm doing I usually run between 18 and 25. I of course have to buy my own gas so I save all I can. If you keep a shorter stickout whenever possible it helps you to be able to run a lower flow rate.

That's a good tip ... I've seen short cups actually allow for a slight extension of the contact tip, so the stickout could be kept to a minimum. Of course, the hotter you weld - the more gas & stickout you need.

On shielding gas settings - 25 CFH is a good rule of thumb. You may be able to optimize your welds with a lower setting if you keep a shorter stickout (as your technique, application and environment allow) and you should also check all of your connections to make sure there are no leaks.

Speaking of connections, do you guys use any type of sealers ? ie: Teflon tape, joint compound, etc ?

reddtigger wrote:Speaking of connections, do you guys use any type of sealers ? ie: Teflon tape, joint compound, etc ?

Nope. Those connections are designed to work like a pipe union. If tightening it doesn't stop a leak, the faces need dressed (w/ scotchbrite) or replaced.

You CAN add sealants, but it's bad practice. If you forget and do it on the oxygen side of your torch, the results can be unpleasant.

(There are some pipe-taper threads on your regulator/flowmeter, but they are sealed with a high-strength thread locker/sealant, and should never leak unless disturbed.)

I use a ball type flowmeter and set it at around 20 SCFH. I have a Lincoln SP175 Plus and I use straight CO2. It does ordinarily give a bit more spatter, but I control this nicely by keeping a container of Welding Gel nearby. I will dip the warm tip right in the gel and then continue with my welding. This cuts spatter down to a very low level.

CO2 has two benefits: It's relatively inexpensive and it gives somewhat greater penetration. I was taught MIG by a friend who had been a professional welder before becoming a CNC machinist and he still uses CO2. I understand that 75/25 gives a slightly nicer weld but for the difference in price, I'm fine with CO2. Since I'm a hobby weldor only, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

I also like the fact that, although the CO2 containers are larger in diameter, they are lower. This makes it a bit easier to move the cart around. I also keep the tip of the torch scrupulously clean and that helps for the next time that I weld. I also like solid .024 Lincoln Wire for general use. It's got a broad range.

I also discovered that a 20# cylinder of CO2 has as much capacity as a 160 cu. ft. cylinder. Apparently, one pound of CO2 provides approximately 8 cu. ft. of shielding gas.