gas dissapation

[austy888]

i keep my 200 dx in a cold garage and havent noticed any problems, although it seems that the argon in my bottle seems to dissapte in the cold. is this normal?

[hankj]

No way. You must have a leaky valve. (You do keep the valve closed when you're not welding, huh?)

Hank

[Mike W]

I had an argon tank that I didn't use for a year or so. When I went to use it, it was empty.

[fun4now]

check the gages

i just had a tank that was leaking out of the top of the handle??? not much but it was enough to make me think i should go back to flux core wire.

anyhow i got a new tank and it stays in my unheated shed and i turn off the tank after im done using it to make shoure i have no leaks i check the gage befor i turn it back on, after a week of no use the gages still read 17cfm and 1800 psi.
even though i rent this tank i no longer take for gantet that they check for leaks befor or after filling the tank's

[lramberson]

Extreme tempature will make a tank read diffrently,
example new unuse tank just uncapped @ 105* degrees fh reads 3150psi.
same tank @ 32*degrees fh reads 2700psi just physics that gas is cold, temp back to 85* fh gas expands back to 3000 psi.
This is with the notation the tank is not leaking & you turn that baby off when not in use.

[fun4now]

all the way

also you may already know this but just in case ya dont.

always turn the valve all the way on or off. most tank valves only seat when all the way open or closed, this could cause a leak if not seated.