Sup. Got my welder out today but I suspect the gas cylinder is empty. (Argon mix) Pressure gauge read zero, but was still getting flow according to gauge, but welds were all brown sooty. Now no flow registering. However if I remove the regulator and open the cylinder valve gas is escaping. There's a marking of 12kg on cylinder , and putting it on scales shows around that. But I don't see how I can have used an entire cylinder. It's always been turned off at valve so shouldn't be leaking. Sound empty? How many hours welding would you expect from a cylinder? It's a hobbyweld jobby btw.
I dont know Hobbyweld but the 2L BOC Argoshield Light used to last about 50 mins for 0.5 cubic metres of gas weighs 6kg. Got fed up with it running out. now rent a size Y at 2.42 cubic metres, weighs 19kg . So that one should be about 4 hours. From this I guess a 12kg cylinder might be in the middle, couple of hours to 3 hours. .. I tend to run fairly high gas flow semi-outdoors in the garage. I found it wasnt the regulator but the crummy gas valve in the integral torch of my cheap welder used to leak. Now I upgraded to a Euro torch using a kit, the gas valve is installed in the welder and it doesnt leak anything like as fast. Before I could waste a cylinder overnight if I left the bottle on connected to the welder. Now I dont see the pressure drop overnight.. This morning I put my welder on 100% power welding on the chassis.. and the contact tip melted...
It's a decent enough regulator , from weldequip (migweld forum ) However it was originally for a co2 cylinder, but was told find to use with argon mix cylinder with the adaptor
I think you are properly run out. And now to find a Hobbyweld dealer that is open. Although I would have to go to Southampton, the BOC shop looks like it is still open. Problem is that they open a direct connection to your soul and suck it out (direct debit account payments), setting it up took ages , credit references all that sort of stuff. Then you dont know exactly how much you are paying - I think its £100 a year + gas for my bottle, as its a small commercial sized bottle. I just googled the mass of a cubic metre of CO2 and its about 2 kilograms. So my cylinder would have weighed about 24 kilos full. Which is quite heavy when you are trying to carry it in one hand.. Its also about 4 feet long .
Yeah I've got no chance of a bottle swap right now Especially as the place I got it from has now closed down been a few years since I got it! Nearest supplier nowin Fareham, hopefully I can still get a refill from a different supplier...
Not sure if there is an SGS gas distributor near you? I use them. No rental on the bottles, just a deposit which is fully refundable Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There seems to be a couple of SGS agents here , will give them a try. And hope I can get my deposit back on my current bottle from a different hobbyweld agent
Try phoning round pubs and finding out if they have any spare CO2 cylinders they wont be using for a bit..
The pub cylinders last for ages. Mmm not many pubs open. co2 Fire extinguishers, yes have some, just need an adapter.. And no fires that need to be put out from welding, always have a person spare on fire watch.
