Adding Helium?
Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2018 7:05 pm
I have seen a few threads a on adding helium to argon for tig welding aluminum. Does the same rule apply for carbon and stainless steel?
I don't pay $15 difference for a full sized bottle of Argon to a 75Ar/25He. I keep hearing that its "super expensive" to use Helium, but its not so in my experience.Bill Beauregard wrote:I can't think of a steel, or stainless application where cost is justified.
The original name for TIG welding was "heliarc".Bill Beauregard wrote:There was a time when pure helium was the commonly used shielding gas.
If I could get it that cheap, that's all I would use. There have been times suppliers hoarded helium for their best customers.cj737 wrote:I don't pay $15 difference for a full sized bottle of Argon to a 75Ar/25He. I keep hearing that its "super expensive" to use Helium, but its not so in my experience.Bill Beauregard wrote:I can't think of a steel, or stainless application where cost is justified.
And, for giggles, right before Xmas I had to refill my large bottle. The guy at my LWS, who was not among the regular counter guys I deal with, was looking up the part # and said, $93. I said (tongue in cheek)"What? Last time it was $63!" He said, "Oh, okay. $63 is fine." I laughed, the other clerk who I deal with constantly, said, "Sure, works for me". I paid cash, threw them $40 for Xmas lunch and walked out. So there, in that instance, it was $15 less than my normal Argon bottle It will be interesting to see what it costs next time.
Yah, like one of my LWS. Purity Gas in Lansing MI. They have been hoarding He except for their top or best customers.Bill Beauregard wrote:If I could get it that cheap, that's all I would use. There have been times suppliers hoarded helium for their best customers.cj737 wrote:I don't pay $15 difference for a full sized bottle of Argon to a 75Ar/25He. I keep hearing that its "super expensive" to use Helium, but its not so in my experience.Bill Beauregard wrote:I can't think of a steel, or stainless application where cost is justified.
And, for giggles, right before Xmas I had to refill my large bottle. The guy at my LWS, who was not among the regular counter guys I deal with, was looking up the part # and said, $93. I said (tongue in cheek)"What? Last time it was $63!" He said, "Oh, okay. $63 is fine." I laughed, the other clerk who I deal with constantly, said, "Sure, works for me". I paid cash, threw them $40 for Xmas lunch and walked out. So there, in that instance, it was $15 less than my normal Argon bottle It will be interesting to see what it costs next time.
Willie