It is very important to know the pressure and flow of gas in MIG welding. The quality of your welding depends on these, so you need to have a clear knowledge of both gas pressure and flow. These factors depend on the type of gas, settings, and pressure of the regulator. Here, I will talk about argon pressure for MIG welding.
The line system used in MIG Welding can take a minimum pressure of 50 psi. The pressure caused by the argon flow rate usually fluctuates up to 15-30 psi. However, you will try to keep Argon Pressure For MIG Welding between 14-16 psi. It is not better to take more than 25 psi.
If the gauge is thin, you can weld at a minimum of 12 psi. Less gas consumption costs less, but casting is poorer. Excessive gas consumption can lead to weak fusion, penetration, and raised beads in the weld.
Argon Gas Tank Specification Used In MIG Welding:
Do you know the exact specification of the tank you are using for MIG welding? If you do not know, you can find it in the table below. And yes, these values may change depending on the manufacturer of the tanks.
| Size Of Tank (cf) | Height Of Tank(Inch) | Diameter(Inch) | Empty Weight(lbs) | Full Weight(Ibs) | Maximum Pressure(PSI) |
| 40 | 22 | 6½ – 7¼ | 24 | 28 | 2015 |
| 80 | 35 | 6½ – 7¼ | 47 | 56 | 2015 |
| 125 | 45 | 6½ – 7¼ | 58 | 71 | 2265 |
Before buying a gas tank, you must check its specifications. If you do not know which is the best quality tank, you can get a good idea from the gas supplier in your area.
Things To Keep In Mind When Determining Argon Gas Flow:
In fact, in the case of gas welding, LPM (liters per minute) or CFH (cubic feet per hour) should be used instead of PSI (pound per inch square). Because you will be welding by the flow of gas. In the case of MIG welding, argon gas pressure depends on various factors, such as type of welding, distance, material, size or diameter of the gas shroud, etc.
Follow the table below for MIG Welding Gas Flow:
| Inside Diameter Of MIG Gun(Inch) | Typical Flow CFH | Minimum Suggested FlowCFH | Maximum Suggested FlowCFH |
| ⅜ | 18-22 | 15 | 30 |
| ½ | 22-27 | 18 | 40 |
| ⅝ | 30-35 | 22 | 55 |
| ¾ | 30-40 | 30 | 65 |
How do you know if the flow of gas is right? Yes, if you see that the flow of gas seems to be turbulent, this is causing holes in the weld. You can understand more if you see that the size of the weld profile is increasing. This will result in more gas wastage so you should always check if the equipment is in good working order.
Sometimes there is too much spatter when welding, this problem can block the tip of your welding gun. This reduces the flow of gas and creates thinner welding. So you need to pay attention to the maintenance so that the equipment is in good condition.
Flow depends on the type of gas. If you use argon in welding, its flow rate will be higher because argon is a heavy gas. And if you use helium, the flow rate will be less. Also, the flow rate depends largely on the thickness. Less gas is required if the thickness of the weld to be welded is between 1-3 mm, and if the material is thicker than 3 mm then more gas flow is required.
Other Gasses Used In MIG Welding Besides Argon:
Almost everyone agrees that a mixture of 75% argon + 25% carbon is best for welding. You can also use it in another gas welding. They are described below.
- Carbon-Di-Oxide (CO2):
One of the most widely used gasses in MIG welding is carbon dioxide (CO2). You can use it without adding any other gas to the carbon dioxide. You do not need to add any other inert gas. Welding with this gas is less expensive so many people prefer to do welding with it.
- Helium (He):
Helium (He) is not used directly in MIG welding, with the addition of argon (Ar). That is, you can say that helium (He) is added to increase the fluidity of argon. Only pure argon or helium mixed argon can be used in all types of welding.
- Oxygen:
MIG is used as an oxygen shield in welding. Non-inert and usually a small amount of oxygen is used to stabilize the pressure. The main reason for keeping oxygen in the mixture is to prevent the penetration of stainless steel or coarse metal joints.
- Nitrogen:
Nitrogen gas is used for welding stainless steel tubes, it is mixed with argon gas as the ordinary purging gas. It is used in very small amounts with argon. This gas is very beneficial for stainless steel. However, there are some harmful aspects of this nitrogen gas.
How To Set argon Gas In MIG Welder:
You can follow the steps below to make your wedding flawless.
- The first thing you need to do is set the shielding gas bottle holder.
- It is necessary to check the regulator of the gas holder to see if there is any defect. If there is an error, it must be changed.
- Open and close the valve of the shielding gas bottle a few times to remove any dirt from the valve.
- Open the gas valve and slowly turn the gas regulator control knob clockwise. When you see that it is starting to resist then the gas will start flowing and the delivery gauge will start rotating around the needle.
- Check to see if there is any leakage. If there is a gas leak, it is not suitable for work.
- Now you can start welding, set the specific pressure, and can set the gas flow according to the chart given above.
Remember, the flow of gas will depend on the metal you are welding. If you act thoughtfully, the chances of being wrong are greatly reduced.
Related Question About Argon Pressure For MIG Welding:
Can You Make Mig Weld Using 100% Argon Gas?
In short, yes, you can do MIG welding with 100% argon gas. However, welding using only argon results in weak, brittle joints. By using other gasses with argon, you get a stronger and better quality joint. So it is better not to do MIG welding with your 100% argon gas.
What Is A Normal Gas Flow Rate For Welding?
Since argon is the best welding for MIG welding, we can safely say that its value is 10 to 35 cubic feet per hour (CFH). This flow rate of gas can change for various reasons. When shielding gas escapes from the nozzle, its speed may increase or decrease due to atmospheric pressure.
How Do You Know If Your Argon Tank Is Empty?
Take a look at the gauge readings to see if your argon gas tank is empty. This gauge reading is measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). When the gas tank is full, its pressure is about 1000 PSI.
When the pressure of this argon tank is 500 PSI, you will realize that your tank is half empty. And when it shows 120 psi then you have to understand that your argon gas tank is empty.
Is Argon Gas Harmful To The Human Body?
It is an inert gas, so breathing in it can cause dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. This gas is very dense so it can happen. Excessive panic attacks can lead to loss of consciousness and even death. So be careful about any gas. So be careful about any gas, especially heavy gasses.
Conclusion:
You have learned in this article that argon pressure for MIG welding. What is the relationship between gas pressure and gas flow in welding, how do these terms work? Many people confuse these issues with welding, hopefully, you can do welding at a more comfortable time now.
You may also want to read:
