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Thad in AR. 
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Arkansas
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 Topic: Speaking of Welders n such
Posted: 16 Dec 2023 at 7:29pm |
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I need to buy some Argon mix.
This has me wondering about oxygen, acetylene and argon mix prices. Has anyone bought any recently?
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DMiller
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
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Posted: 16 Dec 2023 at 8:14pm |
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Last tank I picked up was DOUBLE what paid two years prior. That was LAST Spring, oughta be about insane now.
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Thad in AR.
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Posted: 16 Dec 2023 at 8:37pm |
 DMiller wrote:
Last tank I picked up was DOUBLE what paid two years prior. That was LAST Spring, oughta be about insane now. |
That’s what I figured.
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steve(ill)
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Joined: 11 Sep 2009
Location: illinois
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Posted: 16 Dec 2023 at 8:53pm |
What do you weld with the ARGON ? You doing aluminum ?
On standard steel, i just use CO2 ... Cheaper and works great.. Doing that for 25 years.
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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Codger
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Location: Utopia
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Posted: 16 Dec 2023 at 9:58pm |
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I usually use C25 mix which is 75% Argon and 25% CO2. Lot less spatter and it produces a better wetting action at the toes or edges of the weld puddle. Straight argon is for aluminum welding only in my usage.
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That's All Folks!
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
Location: New mexico
Points: 13681
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Posted: 16 Dec 2023 at 10:35pm |
Ditto what Steve says, Thad. I used to use the 75/25 Argon mix til they wanted me to give them the numbers to my credit card,,,,,  I had a fire extenguisher from work tested by and repurposed by AirGas for straight CO2 which is MUCH cheaper and works great as an all purpose sheilding gas,,,, I go even farther and now use propane gas instead of acetalene on my cutting torch set,,, works great with the correct tip,,, 
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Thad in AR.
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Location: Arkansas
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Posted: 17 Dec 2023 at 4:58am |
steve(ill) wrote:
What do you weld with the ARGON ? You doing aluminum ?
On standard steel, i just use CO2 ... Cheaper and works great.. Doing that for 25 years. |
I’ve always used 75/25 mix for mild steel. If I can save a $ I’ll try co2. Does it use the same tank and regulator?
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IBWD MIke
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Joined: 08 Apr 2012
Location: Newton Ia.
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Posted: 17 Dec 2023 at 7:35am |
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I run straight argon when tig welding.
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steve(ill)
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Location: illinois
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Posted: 17 Dec 2023 at 8:51am |
Thad..........., the CO2 runs at a lower pressure so normally the tanks are MARKED and remain that way for a SPECIFIC GAS.. Since your going to a REDUCED pressure, the FILLER may change the TAG and fill with CO2... ask them.... The regulator can also be used, but the fittings on the bottle / hose are different, ( so you would need a new adaptor / fitting to go on the bottle..... assuming the FILLER will change the fitting to a CO2 type.)... Possibly they can remark the bottle and use the same fittings ??? That would be entirely up to the filler.
My son got a Wire feed bottle with CO2 and it would not FIT our hose.. I bought an adaptor for it... I think they had a Argon/mix bottle and remarked it for straight CO2 and left the Argon fitting on it........ thats what you need.
Edited by steve(ill) - 17 Dec 2023 at 8:53am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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DMiller
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Joined: 14 Sep 2009
Location: Hermann, Mo
Points: 33220
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Posted: 17 Dec 2023 at 9:05am |
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Have ran the Argon/CO2 blend here as seems as noted less spatter, and with shop doors open less shield drifting.
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steve(ill)
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Posted: 17 Dec 2023 at 9:18am |
Here is a photo off the internet.. I cant give a PERSONAL opinion, since i have never used the MIX.... I have used CO2 for 25 years..
Edited by steve(ill) - 17 Dec 2023 at 9:20am
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Like them all, but love the "B"s.
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jaybmiller
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
Location: Greensville,Ont
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Posted: 17 Dec 2023 at 9:37am |
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75/25 is called 'Autogas' or something similar. Used for thin tin welding like doors,fenders, etc.
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3 D-14s,A-C forklift, B-112
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Coke-in-MN
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Joined: 12 Sep 2009
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Posted: 19 Dec 2023 at 3:55pm |
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Have used 75/25 for years , tried some straight CO2 and spatter was problem .
I have couple old CO2 fire bottles I keep filled with other gas , extra Oxygen and straight Argon , I made up a jumper hose to fill them from new bottles when I get one .
Acetylene is hard to get , local welding shop does not handle it , MAPP gas now only.
I have been using Propane for cutting and heating after changing tips on cutting and buying a Propane rosebud .
Propane will work for brazing but somewhat slower on gas welding , Acetylene cost is out of site now but as I have 3 empty tanks I might get one filled just for gas welding .
I have 322 cu ft Argon / Co2 tanks and oxygen tanks and a few 122 cu ft tanks also , somehow I seem to have acquired around 15 different certified tanks over the years along with my cheater Co2 tanks . Couple Oxygen 322 tanks also
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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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desertjoe
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Joined: 23 Sep 2013
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Posted: 20 Dec 2023 at 8:27am |
Hey Coke,,,,You know,, the supplier also told me some time back that acetylene was getting real hard for them to get so they started raising the price to consumers,,,,sound familier,,,? I finally quit that circle and went with propane and the correct tips and I can fill the bottle from my big house tank.
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DMiller
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Location: Hermann, Mo
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Posted: 20 Dec 2023 at 8:43am |
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Acetylene is formed by Calcium Carbide placed in water, is a mined stone and getting more difficult to find in quantity.
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Coke-in-MN
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Location: Afton MN
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Posted: 22 Dec 2023 at 4:41pm |
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Big problem is Acetylene is Unstable gas and inside the bottles they use Acetone to absorb the Acetylene to make it stable for use . The bottles have a core material in them to hold the gas in suspension . Mississippi Welding here does not handle it now - is where my son gets his supplies from . They recertified my tanks and marked them as customer owned so he has to exchange his own tanks and they charge for the fill - rather than full bottle exchange .
I see Fleet Farm does Acetylene bottle fill or exchange here in Hudson WI .
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Faith isn't a jump in the dark. It is a walk in the light. Faith is not guessing; it is knowing something.
"Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful."
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