Subject: Q:Helium Gas for MIg Welding?

From: [email-masked] (Glenn R. Decastro)
Date: 29 Apr 1996 18:03:03 GMT

Is it there a benefit using helium gas versus Argon-CO2?  Can the 
Argon-CO2 regulator be used for the substitution?
What metal used this be used for?

Thanks,
Glenn R. deCastro
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (ErnieLeim)
Date: 30 Apr 1996 00:36:30 -0400

> [email-masked] (Glenn R. Decastro) asked :

>What metal used this be used for?

Helium has little benefit in MIG welding of steel, but for stainless it is
essential for clean oxide free welds, and for aluminum it helps blow
through oxides, dirt and also boosts the heat ( penetration ).
For stainless use a Helium tri-mix. This is a standard mix that most gas
suppliers carry. 
For aluminum I use a helium-argon mix. You can buy this as a premade mix
or do what I do , and mix it myself from a tank of each. 
Mixes for aluminum are available in several ratios. 
25% helium / 75% argon --- for generally cleaner welds
50% helium / 50% argon --- for greater penetration
75% helium / 25% argon --- for maximum penetration
All tri-mixes and argon/helium mixes are proprietary. 
This means that you can't own the tanks, and have to rent them.
That is why I use a manifold and mix it myself. I can own the tanks and
can adjust the mix according to my needs.

Hope this helps

@}---------------------------------------------------{@
                    Ernie Leimkuhler                                      

                  Stagesmith Productions                                  
                                          
                 Custom Metal Fabrication                                 
               
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From: [email-masked] (Peter Brooks)
Date: 2 May 1996 17:59:32 GMT

ErnieLeim ([email-masked]) wrote:
: All tri-mixes and argon/helium mixes are proprietary. 
: This means that you can't own the tanks, and have to rent them.

Hmm, that doesn't seem to hold in San Jose.  When I bought my Miller 130,
they offered to either sell or rent the argon/helium tank.  I bought the tank
and they then charged me for the mix.  (75% argon, 25% helium).
If memory serves, I paid about $100 for the tank and, er, maybe $40 for the
gas.  It's been a while and I haven't had to refill.

BTW, this was Arc Welding Supply in SJ, one of the larger vendors.

: That is why I use a manifold and mix it myself. I can own the tanks and
: can adjust the mix according to my needs.

Granted, the manifold seems to be a great idea.

Pete Brooks

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From: [email-masked] (ErnieLeim)
Date: 3 May 1996 01:00:10 -0400

Okay , after asking my local supplier, they sadi that you can own the
tanks for helium argon, but not for tri-mixes, or 98/2( argon / oxygen). 
They discourage owning them because there are very few ownership cylinders
in their system, so they can't garauntee that they can have one ready all
the time.

Another note about mixing manifolds:
It is very important to have back flow preventers on all the lines to
prevent the gases from mixing in the tanks, and screwing your gas supplier
by contaminating the tanks.
I also use quick-release connectors to allow my Helium/argon mix to be
hooked up to my Betamig 250 for aluminum welding.

Best of luck

                  Stagesmith Productions                                  
                                          
                 Custom Metal Fabrication