TIG flowmeter opinions?

I don't think you will see a difference in the weld quality. You might see a difference in the argon usage though. With a single stage regulator, the output pressure will creep up as the cylinder pressure drops. Unless you re-adjust the flow rate occasionally, it will creep up over time. If you were to T the argon line for backpurge, you might want a two stage regulator because they do a better job regulating with flow variations that you are likely to see with a backpurge setup on the same regulator. I use a separate tank and regulator for backpurge so I can't say for sure.

I use the single stage Victor with the plastic flow meter. I picked it up off the "bargain" table and had to replace the sight glass since it had had the end popped off it. I have only been using this one for a few years, but have never seen any signs of the ball sticking.

Good Luck, Bob

I prefer the Smiths with the glass tube. I added a Tee fitting on mine for back purging. I just added a second flow tube from an old flow gauge.

For a while I used a tank splitter that allowed me to use 2 flow gauges on one tank, but it was a pain to remove for tank change overs.

There has been discussion of flowmeters, TIG and arrangements for backpurging on s.e.j.w. before. What worked well for me: (first, let's assume all flowmeters have both a column showing the flow and a needle valve for adjusting flow) -- a single stage regulator on the cylinder, set to a bit higher pressure that gave the necessary flow through the torch and backpurge with the flowmeter valves wide open - maybe twice the flow. Off this one incoming line, feed both the torch and the backpurge through a Y-fork. On the branch to the welding machine you have just a flowmeter. The TIG welder has an internal solenoid turning on and off the gas. On the backpurge supply you have a flowmeter with its needle valve, but then, near where you are working, you have an on/off valve with a big handle. You fine-adjust the flow at the backpurge flowmeter, but you can set the argon flowing only when you are about to weld - and shut off when you are done, while leaving the flowmeter alone. With welding being usually stop/start, you are better off with a decent flow when the valve is open and then shut it off, ratehr than have an inadequate flow all the time. The reason you set the regulator on the cylinder to a slightly higher pressure than absolutely needed is so that if you adjust the flow on one of the flowmeters it doesn't noticeably affect the other one. That pressure in the delivery pipe to the Y-fork and into the flowmeters is very low. There is no issue of pressure rating of the flowmeters. Is that advice OK with everyone?

Richard Smith

In Britain I paid about that for a British-made brass-bodied flowmeter

- and usually things in Europe cost more than in the States. Maybe get to know your local welding supplier. By the way - Argon is very "leaky". It will find leaks where compressed air won't find a way out. It probably isn't worth getting "inert gas proof" pipe, but those fully-wrapping-around crimped fittings around the "barb" of your brass pipe fittings are worth-while. Turn off your bottle valve when you have finished work unless you find that the hose will hold Argon pressure for days without any observable loss. Well, you should do that anyway...

Richard Smith