Mig gas bottle option

[threedogs]

Hi all found this on Ebay.. Might be better than the disposable cannisters.
No rent and refillable, might be just the thing for the handy man, Full size bottles are very expensive
to hire especially if you don't use them.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MIG-Welder-Gas-New-Refillable-Cylinder/330963061528?_trksid=p2045573.m2102&_trkparms=aid%3D555012%26algo%3DPW.MBE%26ao%3D1%26 asc%3D298%26meid%3D3008974401105220787%26pid%3D100 034%26prg%3D1079%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D8%26sd%3D2810914 48006%26#ht_1520wt_1018

[mudnut]

Looks good, 3D. I am lucky to get 300 mm of weld from a disposable bottle. The account fees and gas prices are huge, which is a bit rich, as I have read it is a by-product of producing ammonia or during the production of oxygen and nitrogen. The only time I would bother getting gas these days is if my cars need repairs. I wonder what the turn around time is for the bottles?

[NP99]

About time we had players take on the giants. My bottles lay empty. Why we can't do 1 for 1 like LPG??? Because the gas suppliers like to hold us to ransome.

[threedogs]

I used to rent the big bottle but money going to waste if not welding.
Depends how long they last might just be the thing for any special job.
Yeah right turn around time would vary state to state but I'm interested that's for sure

[BigRAWesty]

Shop around.
Boc are a joke with prices. They charge the earth for hire, but cheap refills.
I'm with backwoods who charge a bit more refills, but only $16 a month hire.
Turns out if you refill once a year, blackwoods are over $100 cheaper a year than boc..

Have just read they come full, and are $70 refills.
Could be a good deal for some..

[Steve4wdin]

My first thought was just use fluxed wire for migs. But that is a good deal. Also, how long does a cylinder last before an inspection is required? 10 years like LPG cylinders? I like the idea. Good find John

[threedogs]

Full bottle is 600ltr of Gas with an average flow rate of 10-12 ltr/min
which would give you approx. 50-60 min continuous welding.
Now is it worth $70 for an hours welding

[Steve4wdin]

Full bottle is 600ltr of Gas with an average flow rate of 10-12 ltr/min
which would give you approx. 50-60 min continuous welding.
Now is it worth $70 for an hours welding

Short answer is no. For $70 Winnie and I could buy 2 slabs of VB and it would last longer. lol

[megatexture]

I've given up on gas and just use gasless its just more clean up but my times free compared to the gas

[NP99]

Short answer is no. For $70 Winnie and I could buy 2 slabs of VB and it would last longer. lol

The gas would taste better though!

[mudnut]

I owned an early style gasless MIG, and found it almost impossible to get the wire speed right. The warmer the unit got, its electrical characteristics would change. A few years back I sold it and bought a small TIG set up, to repair the rust in the plenum chamber on my 4WD Corolla. I found it to be the ducks guts as there was hardly any distortion on thin metal. Since then, the cost of argon has gone through the roof. Does anyone know if the argon bottles have to be pressure tested every ten years? If so then you would have to factor in that cost as well.

[BigRAWesty]

Why rum argon. Best run argosheild, Its a blend to aid migs run smoother.
And is also cheaper than argon..

But date should be stamped on the bottle..

[macca86]

Argo shield for mig it's argon and co2 for pure tig work you need pure argon as it's a stable arc tig stand for tungsten inert gas argon is an inert gas co2 is not. Gas less migs are terrible to use and should only be used on non structural or home handyman jobs if you can't afford the gas for your mig pick up a stick with some 16tc rods hard to start but lay on nice once going and can do all positions easy I hate gp rods 16tc for the win.

[mudski]

I've been looking around a Migs. Gas and gasless. Why can you just buy the said bottle, and when its empty, take to BOC or whoever and get them to refill it? Or isn't it as simple as that?

[NP99]

I've been looking around a Migs. Gas and gasless. Why can you just buy the said bottle, and when its empty, take to BOC or whoever and get them to refill it? Or isn't it as simple as that?

They won't do a refill unless it's their rental.....all part of ripping us off!

[BigRAWesty]

I've been looking around a Migs. Gas and gasless. Why can you just buy the said bottle, and when its empty, take to BOC or whoever and get them to refill it? Or isn't it as simple as that?

They do a circulation thing and bottles get check regularly.
If you know someone who knows someone who works at a refill depot then you may get it refilled..

[NP99]

Plus some do a decant for you from rentals.....

[threedogs]

Turn around time is about 4-5 days as they send another full tank as soon as they receive you're empty one.
which to me means that they will test any tanks around 10yrs old. He said some buy 2 x tanks at a time to save any
down time on turn over.

[rusty_nail]

Short answer is no. For $70 Winnie and I could buy 2 slabs of VB and it would last longer. lol

yeah ive seen winnie drink... 6 beers and hes passed out haha the VB would last ages!

[Steve4wdin]

yeah ive seen winnie drink... 6 beers and hes passed out haha the VB would last ages!

I'm a bit the same lately, Need more practice.

[threedogs]

@ Mudski unless you're welding all the time its not worth hiring a bottle and will cost a fortune to fill.
The smaller bottle might be the go if you only need it for one job, less cost involved, I've just purchased an inverter/welder
as I like stick welding, but I'll be buying the Tig torch and hose soon as it a very strong neat weld

[janderson]

here's one in Ballarat, a bit cheaper.
https://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/froggy-chat/105334-mig-welding-gas-bottle-rental.html

[threedogs]

That's heaps cheaper good find
Also found this last time we were talking about this Janderson.http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Sealey-Gas-Cylinder-Disposable-Argon-60ltr-Welding-Cutting-MIG-Consumables-G-/290771882793?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item43b35ad329#ht_1328wt_1255 cheaper still even from the UK

[NP99]

here's one in Ballarat, a bit cheaper.
https://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/froggy-chat/105334-mig-welding-gas-bottle-rental.html

I like the comment from the wife... :)

[NP99]

Another option is to visit a home brew shop for co2...

[macca86]

You can't weld in just co2 unless you want a contaminated weld that looks like an aero bar.

[BigRAWesty]

here's one in Ballarat, a bit cheaper.
https://www.aussiefrogs.com/forum/froggy-chat/105334-mig-welding-gas-bottle-rental.html

Only good if your in Ballarat as they won't post..

[threedogs]

only an hour and a bit up the road.

[NP99]

You can't weld in just co2 unless you want a contaminated weld that looks like an aero bar.

Mild steel with co2 is fine though!

[macca86]

Never tried it but must ask if its cheaper why has it never been used in any workshop I've worked in. Answers may be found here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/welding-gas.htm. Probably not suited for home use as most people use thin gauge steel and will burn though or lay pigeon poo due to an unstable arc

[janderson]

Another option is to visit a home brew shop for co2...

I use co2 on mild steel, had no problems. Just got to make shore I have enough left for the beer. I bought my own bottle and the home brew just refills it, ($20 for 2.4kg/6liter) if they haven't got time then they just swops it.

[NP99]

Never tried it but must ask if its cheaper why has it never been used in any workshop I've worked in. Answers may be found here http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/welding-gas.htm. Probably not suited for home use as most people use thin gauge steel and will burn though or lay pigeon poo due to an unstable arc

My son was using it in a wksp in Roma.....he said they were pretty tight when it came to $$$$

[macca86]

I use co2 on mild steel, had no problems. Just got to make shore I have enough left for the beer. I bought my own bottle and the home brew just refills it, ($20 for 2.4kg/6liter) if they haven't got time then they just swops it.
What litres per min do you use? 10-12 litres per min is normally what's used is it less for co2 because I'd want more than 30 seconds of welding for $20. 50 to 80 dollars gets you a 5kg pack of rods can burn 3.2 all day for that price lay more than a metre of weld. Not having a go just curious why I've never used it in the 9 years I've been in steel game as a boilermaker and very greatfull for foreign orders after hrs using works consumables

[janderson]

What litres per min do you use? 10-12 litres per min is normally what's used is it less for co2 because I'd want more than 30 seconds of welding for $20. 50 to 80 dollars gets you a 5kg pack of rods can burn 3.2 all day for that price lay more than a metre of weld. Not having a go just curious why I've never used it in the 9 years I've been in steel game as a boilermaker and very greatfull for foreign orders after hrs using works consumables

don't do a lot with co2, mostly I use gas less. I only weld around home. If I need a better quality weld that's when I use co2. if I have a big job I then use Argoshield Light, but rental is the killer

[NP99]

Funny enough, if they did the one for one swap like LPG, they would make more $$$$. There are so many of us doing other things because of the rip off rentals.....