83 replies to this topic

[Rockoz]

When you take purging into account and the bottles seem to leak once theyve been cracked, and the control on gas flow is poor, I wouldnt count on more than 5 mins welding.

I welded in a roof section about 250mm x 150mm and went through 3 bottles to get the job done.

$60 bucks is a lot for that,

Went and bought the reg and hired the bottle.

Was $100 a year and $60 fill I think. Long time ago so not sure. Worked out heaps cheaper.

I now have a bottle that I cant remember where it came from, so really cheap until it runs out.

Will do some searching. Remember reading about a company where you could buy the bottle and just pay for refills.

[Bernie]

Good link Toranatime .So technology pays a big part here .My transmig 190 needs to be updated .

[SS hatch]

Lpg oxy cutting heating been round for years need different tip and Im sure a different head mixing chamber to accept the tip.We use lpg oxy for bulk input of heat to remove kickass couplings and fitment up to 2t couplings, due to the greater heat input which does not transfer to the parent shaft.In fairness not your standard cutting tip big wand with big rose hi vol lines Propane over accet any day for heat. 

[Rockoz]

Yet I found when trying to do some silver soldering with LPG/Oxy I couldnt get enough heat where Oxy/Acet would do the job.

Had to use the LPG cutting tip to get the heat I needed.

[SS hatch]

Secret with propane is setting reg pressure been a while since using cutting but get your gear set right its a clean cut.Good Silver solder likes a direct welding tip heat, plumbers silver even more forgiving all can be done with accet cutting tip with care.   

[Bernie]

LPG with O2 works well .It is just different to work with .On its own the heat is not concentrated enough .

[TerrA LX]

LPG with O2 works well .It is just different to work with .On its own the heat is not concentrated enough .

Your talking brazing, not MIG here right?

[Bernie]

I tried straight LPG for silver and it did absolutely nothing. Same thing with oxy/acet and job done. 

Yes, Brazing .

[SS hatch]

All forms require the introduction of oxygen to raise the heat needed cutting and welding.Propane on its own for BBQ but it is good for preheating large areas difficult to weld steels ie cast steel. Due to the slow introduction of controlled low heat.  

[Rockoz]

I tried the gasless wire first up when I bought my mig, hoping to save money.

Now it probably has as much to do with the mig, but found the welds next to useless.

Lack of penetration and very dirty looking welds.

Re did them all with gas when I got it and much better job.

[TerrA LX]

Gasless has to be used the same as a stick welder.

[76lxhatch]

Gasless can work when you get used to it, a little hard to control and easy to burn through on panel thin stuff, partly because you can't get wire smaller than 0.8mm. Heavier stuff I never had a problem with, but of course you need a welder capable of suitable output for what you're doing. Pretty much always messy though, can't generally get away without cleanup.

This was about the nicest I could get with gasless:


Using gas with CO2 gives a lot neater finish with less cleanup. I still hold to my opinion that its a good middle step (heaps better than gasless but without the expense of bottle rental etc), and have done a lot of work with mine and never found it lacking.

[wot179]

Gasless welding also produces carcinogenic gases.

[TerrA LX]

Don't tell the Government, they'll find a tax for it.

[Rockoz]

Yep Jacob thats what I found when using gasless.

Im no great welder but can do a pretty good job.

When I first used the gasless I tried it out on thicker steel and still didnt get a great result.

Use the gas and back to good looking welds.

Ive done mild, stainless and ally with the mig with gas with no dramas

Played with a mates gasless Mig ages ago and went OK.

But that was with I think 1.5 or maybe bigger wire doing hard facing on machinery.

Edited by Rockoz, 06 March 2014 - 08:49 PM.

[Oversteer]

Its all about technique and job prep, if you had someone to show you how you would get it pretty quick, you would be amazed what you can do with stick and a gassless mig if you had too !

 

Welding with ox&LPG works but you must have very clean copper and use flux.... not as easy as the spot heat of acet which you just go old school and burn the area clean lol. Lot of plumbers use lpg exclusively ... much cheaper.

 

As for using co2 for mig, it changes the temp of the weld and iirc is more penetration ie heavy steel welding..... would not use it for panel or general light duty stuff.