Welding Tips and Tricks

When I learned TIG, we used Argon. Nothing else but Argon. We used it for LCS, Stainless, Aluminum

When I learned MIG for Aluminum, we used Argon. Nothing else. Argon did it all.

Since then I used Argon for most welding jobs.

However, there are a plethora of specialty gas mixtures available under trades names such as:
- Alushield Light (30% Helium in Argon)
- Alushield Heavy (2.8% Carbon Dioxide, 35% Helium in Argon)
- Stainshield (1.5% Oxygen in Argon)
- Stainshield 66 (1% Hydrogen, 2.8% Carbon Dioxide in Argon)
- Stainshield Heavy (2.8% Carbon Dioxide, 35% Helium in Argon)

Currently I'm running Alushield Light as I had a fairly big Aluminium MIG job to do, and the welding specialist at the shop almost 'insisted' that I get Alushield.

Personally, I don't see any significant differences in my results compared to when I just used pure Argon.

My question: While I recognize that there are 'horses for courses', do other users detect a worthwhile difference when using specialty gases, especially if rather than just welding one specific material type constantly, they have a variety of welding jobs and materials.

Keeping in mind the costs, would they still prefer to run multiple bottles and keep changing gases, or (except for very specialized welding) does good old Argon cut it well enough to generally beat the hype?

Your thoughts?

Thanks
Ranger

Hey,

I work for a place where, if you need to use a certain gas, you get it. End of story.

Just recently I used straight argon at home on steel mig, just to see if my new welder worked, it functioned but performed poorly. (I hope you wernt welding steel when you learned) As far as I know, straight argon will get you through for alum mig, but as you mentioned, the specialised gasses are out there, so you may as well used them, especially if someone else is paying.

The main point is, companied have done the research to bring you new product to make life earuer, so why not take advantage of them
Mick

It really comes down to what you are trying to accomplish and how important the project is.

The company isn't supplying. I would have to pay to have multiple bottles rented and kept available.

No doubt that special mixes might be an improvement, that's why they are there.

But especially with aluminum, is this improvement significant or marginal in other user's experiences?

Ranger,
Unless somebody knows something that I don't know, there's no three part wonder gas for tig welding Aluminum. If you need to weld something that requires a lot of heat you can add Helium or even run straight Helium, but outside of that Argon's your gas.

They add different components to Argon or Helium for changing the weld stream characteristics for mig welding. If your not getting what you need out of your mig welding then by all means study up on what's available and get a mix. Most people don't want to hear it but you could probably weld over 90% of everything that should be mig welded with 92/8 Ar/CO2.

Len

Thanks Len

Appreciate the reply. Makes sense. I mainly do 'general' aluminum work, nothing is absolutely specialized.

I currently share the bottle between two machines (MIG & TIG). The current specialty gas (Alushield) limits my ability to handle jobs other than aluminum properly, and I would prefer to run an 'all-purpose' gas if possible, and still be able to do aluminum.

(And I can always rely more on pre-heat if necessary)

Cheers
Trevor

weldin mike 27 wrote:Hey,

...

Just recently I used straight argon at home on steel mig, just to see if my new welder worked, it functioned but performed poorly. (I hope you wernt welding steel when you learned) ...
Mick

Thanks Mick, appreciate your response. I certainly welded Low Carbon Steel, Stainless and Aluminum with Argon.

In all honesty, if all you are doing is home jobs, and the SS is not for particularly high temps (some one will call BS but I think that's the biggest problem for carbide precipitation, please correct me if I'm wrong) Im fairly sure you'll be fine with normal argoshield for steel and ss, and argon for alum.

The specialised gasses exist to make things better and more productive for industry.

Mick

For TIG welding of mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum, I use almost exclusively 100% argon, and many of my welds are to a code. I will add Helium for a heavy section of aluminum, but I have the benefit of unlimited access to helium.

I have yet to encounter a need for a "specialty" mix for a TIG weld.

Rediron881 will tell you about a mix, 98% argon, 2% hydrogen (if I recall correctly), for stainless vacuum welds like I do, only for very heavy sections.

For TIG, there's very little you can't do with 100% argon.

MIG is another animal... I typically use 75/25 for steel, and Tri-mix (90%He, 7.5%Ar, 2.5%CO2) for all stainless work with no issues. (Notice that tri-mix is 90% helium and 10% "75/25"...)

So, unless you're welding heavy vacuum-tight sections in the semiconductor industry, three bottles will cover everything you might do.

Steve S

here is very intersting Point of View on welding gasses
http://www.weldreality.com/MIG_welding_gases.htm

@sparkness
It's a bit of a read but that is a fascinating look inside the world of shielding gases. Thanks for sharing.

@Eldon,
Quit griping about the long read, we're just trying to keep you mentally busy while you're laid up. Your the one supposed to be studying up on all things welding and teaching the rest of us. We don't want you getting pressure sores on the brain too.

I too have referenced that article in the past, good stuff.

Len

what I get from it is ,as with all things we have salesmen and buyers. when I don't research the technology or subject , I rely on salesmen and brand names . eg. a good blue-ray player? ,I just buy sony ,samsung , top name brand, based on that company's reputation without thinking. With welding there is a grey area as what is the best practice sometimes, one welder likes this or that- so what is the best procedure?With heat treating for example there is documented procedure that gets your results and we all agree on that for the most part. So in my opinion I will side with Ed Craig here as he is not selling me gas only his knowledge ,which is convincing. and I will try his gas recommendations for spray transfer

One thing to keep in mind is many or most of the salesmen don't/can't/haven't done any welding!

GlenC wrote:One thing to keep in mind is many or most of the salesmen don't/can't/haven't done any welding
!

Ain't that the truth. Earlier this year I was looking for a good MIG machine specifically for aluminum. The store supervisor at a big welding outlet said he'd set one up in their demo bay, and show me.

He immediately melted not one but two contact tips, and clearly had no idea what settings to use, how to hold the torch or anything. He could sell 'em, but certainly couldn't use 'em.