Mig Gas ??

[puddle jumper]

Just a quick question,my lease ran out on my C25 tank,can I use straight argon to weld mild steel??
Did a little practice with 100% argon,results were not great.

[shadetreewelder]

Can you? Yes. Should you? No.

If you have to to get something fixed then be aware that the penetration will be lower so you will have to up the volts to compensate. Wetting of the toes will be poor so make sure the metal is very clean before welding, CO2 helps with cleaning and penetration.

[shadetreewelder]

BTW, purchase you cylinders it will be cheaper in the long run, well not so long run you usually hit the cost of a cylinders during the 3rd year of a lease.

[storts]

BTW, purchase you cylinders it will be cheaper in the long run, well not so long run you usually hit the cost of a cylinders during the 3rd year of a lease.

Not in Ct. Biggest you can buy is the 80!!!!!!!!,Jack

[puddle jumper]

Thanks a bunch Shade Tree,
I was just in a hurry to weld up some basement jacks after cutting to fit and didn't clean very good just needed to tack the plates on so no need for a preety weld,I just thought 100% would work as well as c25.I have a syncro 250 and small mig was hoping to get by with 100%


Thanks Again

[phaxtris]

100% ar makes a big ulgy mess

if you have a syncrowave why dont you just stick it, that is what i do when i run out of gas and dont want to fill the bottle right then

[griff01]

100% ar makes a big ulgy mess

if you have a syncrowave why dont you just stick it, that is what i do when i run out of gas and dont want to fill the bottle right then

There was a good article in "Practical Welding " (I think that was the right mag) last month explaining the characteristics of GMAW with 100% argon,
90/10(10% co2), and 75/25 on mild steel.
If I remember correctly, the article said 100% would result in a narrow,rope like bead with low penetration and poor wetting on the edges.
90/10 was similar and 75/25 was recommended.
The article could be found in their archives.

HTH
Roger