Which Type of gas do you use?

[kasey]

Hobby Mig Welding for 1/8 to 3/8 inch mild steel, which type of sheilding gas do you use, Pure Co2 or Argon Co2 mix?

Thanks

Kasey

[metal-doctor]

Hi Kasey : Think it depends on what kind of weld you are happy with. To explain it better in my opinion either will make a sound weld for you. that leaves 2 issues CO2 definitley a lot cheaper but the excess spatter drives me crazy. The mix although more expensive saves a lot of time in cleanup & detailing finshed project.So I guess if you want to save money go CO2 & to save time & have nicer looking weld go mix. Hope this helps you out.

[fun4now]

i been running C-25 in my MM135 for about 5 years now and just recently tryed out 100% Co2 and was realy suprised at the results so far. i'm not seeing any more splater then befor although i have only used it on the lower settings so far around 1/8" i'll have to crank it up a bit and see how it goes. i think the welder could play a part in this also. some just sem to run Co2 better than others so i would say try them both and see how you like the results. if the Co2 runs as well on the upper end of my welder as it dose on the lower end i'll be verry happy with it and see no need to go back to C-25.
rent a tank and try both as mialage seems to verry ebtween users and welders.

[Sourdough]

75/25

If you want a nice weld with minimal spatter use a 75/25 mixture.

[Bowtieman31]

I've been using straight CO2 for over 25 years now and I've never had a problem with it.
It's cheaper to buy and it will give you better penetration.
I haven't had any problem with excessive spatter either.
I use it with all three of my mig welders.

[Mike W]

I have used CO2 for years and you have to look hard to see the spatter. I think it becomes more of a problem when you start approaching 200 amps.

[hankj]

I've run both. Mike is correct on the spatter issue. CO² is virtually spatter free when run on my old MM135 with the welder set up correctly. Also spatter free on the MM210 until I get into tap 6 and higher wire speeds - than it acts up a little! Even then, it is not as bad as a poorly adjusted machine running C-25!

I bought the C-25 mainly to let me weld thin gauge sheet goods, and it works much better than CO² (which produces a hotter arc) for that.

Hank

[fun4now]

well i guess i dont have to do a crank it up test, i'll be fine with Co2 till i get my MM210 and want to do the big stuff. the Co2 is shore running nice in my MM135

[MAC702]

For the thickness range you stated, CO2 works extremely well, with very little more spatter compared to an argon mixture. The cost savings and longer weld times per cylinder size definitely make up for the very little extra work in knocking off a few easy BBs with your chipping hammer.

The argon mixtures really shines on thin sheet metal and when you need to get into a spray transfer (high argon percentages and high amperages.)

[Paul Seaman]

C25 is all I use at home or at work!

[phaxtris]

im a big fan of c17 for general purpose garage welding

[lgjhn]

C25 here as well....but for what you're wanting to do, CO2 should work just fine as others have stated.

[kiwi]

Ditto

Ditto, C25 here as well...