How long should a tank of Argon last?

I may have a leak in my rig somewhere as my 134CF tank of argon has lasted about 2 weekends while futzing around learning to tig.

Perhaps 10 linear feet of weld total. After flow set to the recommended, and the ball falls normally after the timer shuts off.

Ive no idea how long a tank should last, or how to detect a slow leak properly.

At $40 a tank..this may be more expensive than I can live with.

My hearing is poor, so cannot hear anything leaking in the system.

Lincoln Tig 250/250, near new Harris ball type flow meter.

Gunner

Liberals - Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends of every country save their own. Benjamin Disraeli

Reply to
Gunner
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I religously turn off the valve after every welding session, sometimes even if I an just stopping for five minutes. I have a four foot tall bottle, no idea of CF-age, I'm going to say that it doesn't last long, maybe 10 - 15 hours of actual welding time. I get a new one every several months, depending on projects. If i'm doing a welding project, I seem to average about 5% - 10% welding time to fabrication time, so 15 hours of "arc" time is a lot of work.

Brian

Reply to
Brian

It goes pretty fast. With a gas lense, running 12.5-15 cfh I've noticed a noticable drop in my tank after putzing around for a few hours doing practice coupons.

The math would suggest your tank would last about 9 hours of welding with a gas lense and about half that with a regular collet body. Easy to do in 2 weekends of futzing, eh?

I bought a 249 cubic foot tank since that is the biggest one I can sling into my vehicle. The gas lense helps a lot, too. There is a usually a price break at some tank size and up--i.e. the smaller tanks cost more per cf to fill.

Always turn the tank valve off when you are not going to be welding for more than a few minutes. You probably already know to turn it all the way on and not just crack it.

Addictive, isn't it?

Jeff Dantzler BTW, did you get my email about the scope mount?

Reply to
Jeff Dantzler

134 Cu Ft

flow rate of 20 Cu Ft / Hr

about 6-3/4 hours of welding time.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

Oh yeah, switch bottles every ten feet, that's what we all do. It's best to line up several bottles, each with its own regulator. Run all the hoses into a manifold with ball valves for quick switches on the fly. Don't forget to keep a bunch of spare regulator nuts on hand, the threads wear out in a hurry if you put in a full day.

Anyway, a few weeks ago you claimed $150 per month worth of electricity for a few hours of welding, and now you're adding another $80 for your monthly 20 feet of TIG. My advice: check with Limbaugh.... considering that you're limiting your hobby to weekends, Oxycontin might be cheaper.

Wayne

Reply to
wmbjk

Let's keep the group positive, eh? David Todtman

Reply to
David Todtman

"David Todtman" wrote: (clip) eh? ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is Canadian for "huh?"

Reply to
Leo Lichtman

Mine usually last until the gauge reads "0". The time it lasts depends on how much welding I do, the pressure I set, and whether or not I remember to turn it off every day, and when not in use.

HTH

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

As most gases - a bucket of very soapy water testing each joint with a rag or such - let it set there to see if bubbles appear. Gas should last a long time for you and me. Not heavy user by any means.

Martin

Reply to
lionslair at consolidated dot

Your point?

Reply to
Waynemak

"Waynemak" wrote

Is that your first choice?

Steve

Reply to
SteveB

Yep, Leo.

We had the pleasure of living in Texas for about 3 1/2 years in the mid-80s and learned to say, "Eh, y'all?"

Ciao, David

Reply to
David Todtman

Yes, it is.

I got one, and responded. Were there others?

Gunner

Liberals - Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends of every country save their own. Benjamin Disraeli

Reply to
Gunner

Wayne has some issues that he needs to address with a counsler. The inferiority complex is only one of them. He has been in my kill file for quite some time and I refuse to reply to his posts, even when piggybacked on others. One should note that I never post off topic in this newsgroup, nor shall I.

Gunner

Liberals - Cosmopolitan critics, men who are the friends of every country save their own. Benjamin Disraeli

Reply to
Gunner

I didn't get one back. I used the above address minus NOSPAM for my email to you. I can be reached at dantler at d r i z z l e dot com

Sorry for being OT

Cheers--JLD

Reply to
Jeff Dantzler

That if a guy has so much "wisdom" to spare that he can pollute umpteen groups dozens of times per *day* with off-topic political posts claiming that about half the country is blindingly stupid, then he shouldn't need to ask if shielding gas costs $4 per bead-foot, and ought to already know that soapy water is cheaper than Argon.

There are occasional exceptions to the "there are no stupid questions" rule. A clue about why that's true might be found somewhere in the

34,000 posts here
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Wayne
Reply to
wmbjk

Oh yeah, I sure wish I needed Usenet to explain what soapy water is for.

What's different about this newsgroup, and what can we do to make it so that you treat the other groups the same?

Hmm.... seems off-topic to me. You might try doing what you say.

Wayne

Reply to
wmbjk

Nah, my first choice would be that his ISP gives him a special smoke signal account, which might keep him busy enough that he doesn't have time to tell us (and tell us and tell us) about his politics.

Wayne

Reply to
wmbjk

And it is appreciated. I tip my hat.

Reply to
Ernie Leimkuhler

I do so, out of respect solely for you, and the fact Im here to learn and perhaps contribute on how Not to do things.

Gunner

"Veterans, and anyone sensible, take cover when there's incoming. A cloud of testosterone makes a piss poor flack shield."

Reply to
Gunner

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