BIG M.I.G.

[6thdude]

I've been doing a lot of MIG welding recently and I msut say I quite enjoying it! Fusing steel together with electricity and sparks... great stuff! Apart from, that is the cost I've spent £20 on wire and £25 on gas this week!
My question is about how to upgrade to a large gas bottle? I've found that 5kg rolls of wire fit my machine nicely but it still drinks gas quicker that the Fiat powered mog I'm welding! (I still remember thinking the fuel gauge was faulty when I started driving it)
My regulator has had it so should I just replace it or upgrade to big bottled fun? Where do I get one from and how much will my pocket suffer?

If anyone uses a bigger set up I'd be most appreciative of advise.

Cheers


Jim

Oh yeah, whats a good radio station to between 5 and 9? Radio 1 and Bob Dalyn tapes are driving me mad!!

[jonathon]

Hi JIm,
If you are doing a lot of welding I'd go for a large bottle, you will need to register this, but if you buy from the likes of BOC then all you need to do is pay about £75 a year rental and a £65 approx fill up charge. I find BOC excellent apart from the rental charge, and they will deliver next day should you run out of gas. It sounds as if you need new guages, or have a leak in yer pipework. We normally use a large bottle per 30-45kg worth of wire. Remember you only need to hear the slightest hiss of gas to enable good welding. I'll have a look at my welder tommorow and give you the settings if you like.
Is that am or pm your working.

[rayofleamington]

I have a DIY bottle from BOC £44 for a refill and £50 a year rental.
6 weeks of welding a Minor from head to toe and it's just below half full. I've used double the gas you would need if you were welding indoors (I've turned mine up due to occasional windy days).
They sell 15kg reels of wire for about £20 - that should last a long time!

[6thdude]

Cheers guys, I think I'll give BOC a ring then. I did have the valve wide open when welding so that should account for a lot.
I'm not sure if 15kg will fit in my machine? 5kg is a bit of a squeeze as it is.

As much as I'd like to think possible there's no way I'd be up welding at 5 in the morning!!!
Jim

[paulk]

We have the gas set at about 25lb/sq inch but we are indoors.

Gas should last a long time so i'd check your Gauge.

[Matt]

I used a mid size bottle in a weekend (but it was leaking! d'oh!)

[jonali]

You can get a device called a gas saver that fits on the end of your regulator. This stops gas loss when you are doing a lot of stopping and starting when welding. Manufacturer is Harris and your local weld supplier will prob have one. You do seem to be chugging the gas so would check settings. Hope that helps.