Ok guys, got me a Craftsman mig gas/gasless @ a good price. I researched it and it looks to be the same welder as the Forney 135... Anyway, I'm looking to buy an Argon tank and don't know what size I should need. Mainly gonna use it for bodywork and some light fabrication. Maybe practice building me a table and stand for my sons dirtbike, etc... 100CF bottle will run me around 200 bucks full, more than I got the welder for! I got a guy selling me a #3 acetylene bottle bottle for 125, is that a good price? Thanks!
yeah argon bottle are pricey. I paid 200 for mine as well and the refills are 40-60 bucks. Just get a flux welder made by hobart. best welder I have used for a universal use
a set of baby torch bottles here cost about $300 full. if your buying bottles from a private party make sure they aren't rentals. the ring near the cap will have a rental company name if they are rental. also the owner bottles can't be filled as high as rentals (DOT reg.). mine is limited to 2250 psi, where as the rentals can get around 2600psi
I asked the owner about the hydrostat test date and it's still current. I'll ask him if its a rental aswell... I also got another guy with a 20cf bottle but, I'm waiting on a reply for the hydrostat date info... The welder I have is also flux core, I'd like to try out the gas since I'll be doing the bed and only wanna do this once with pretty welds to boot!
I have a pretty big one it comes up to just below my hip an I'm 6'3" an I think it only cost me $175 full from airgas
^^ dang! mine only cost 4 bucks now hehe. I have a buddy that works at airgas and get the hook ups or I buy him some car parts or something. either way it works out.
Ya but to refill it is only like $45. An lucky you. My bottle lasts awhile. I had a small little like 20cuft an that last one day when I was doin the back of my truck sucked cause they're closed saturday an Sundays
Most refill places will take in just about any type/size bottle in on trade. So what I've done many times is, gone to garage sales and such and found any old bottle for like $20, then you can take it in and trade up for whatever style/size bottle you like, for about $25 + the price of the gas itself. Just call them and ask them about trade ins. All of the bottle I have, have been done this way. Also you can use the CO2/argon mix, and it's much cheaper than strait argon. And many people use strait CO2, and it's even cheaper. I like and use the mix persoally.
yeah 75/25 is the best imo.. i only use straight argon for tig welding, and straight co2 is prone to porosity.
I read a little on the mix stuff... I'll look into rentals aswell. Maybe it's time to make friends at the local refill store...
yeah the mix actaully is great for doing most metals and can work with all of them. Argon must be used on TIG though and is a must if you want a clean weld on stainless and aluminum
You will be unhappy with the 20 cubic foot bottle. It will empty very quickly and if you are like me, you will run out on Sat. evening in the middle of a project (I run an 80). I found that here in central FL, there are no rental companies anymore, you must buy and maintain your own bottles. Keep in mind too that a refill is a refill no matter what size bottle. The majority of the price is the labor involved. Run 75/25 for mild steel. And with the 135 amp model, make sure you prep everything. It doesn't have the power to burn through layers of rust and such. If you only plan to do sheet metal, then you have a decent sized unit.
My newly aquired welder... Came with the cart and all! Can't wait to setup the gas option! Bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz! No more spatter...
