Argon/CO2 gas mixer

[ArkTinkerer]

Has anyone tried one of these gas mixers coming out of China? Looks pretty simple and straight forward. For the price might well be worth it if you just tinker in the shop with one of those multi-process welders and a wide variety of projects.

Pardon Our Interruption...

 

[mike93lx]

How many different mixes do you find yourself using?

Instead of having one bottle on your cart, you would need two, plus that mixing device. I guess if you had a Stationary setup and needed more than two mixes, it could make sense, but otherwise, it feels like it would be more likely to add some variability in mix quality, plus be another piece of equipment (of questionable quality) to worry about failing

 

[ArkTinkerer]

But you would only need two bottles to do almost anything with one of the multiprocess welders (TIG/Stick/MIG on AL, SS, steel). For a space limited shop where you dabble in multiple things it would save a fair amount of space. You do hone in on the issue and reasons for the question--does it work well and is it reliable? Seems like a pretty simple mechanism.

 

[mike93lx]

But you would only need two bottles to do almost anything with one of the multiprocess welders (TIG/Stick/MIG on AL, SS, steel). For a space limited shop where you dabble in multiple things it would save a fair amount of space. You do hone in on the issue and reasons for the question--does it work well and is it reliable? Seems like a pretty simple mechanism.

Again, how many different mixes do you use? I bet even the more significant hobbiest uses one or two for the vast majority.

If it was economical, you'd see them in welding shops, but I bet the smarter move is just buying the bottles

 

[ArkTinkerer]

CO2 for mild steel with MIG. Argon for AL with TIG. Would like to use Ar/CO2 75/25 and 95/5 for different steels using MIG (SS being different from mild steel). I've really only read about the mixes. But one of these mixers would be better and cheaper than another bottle--if they work!

 

[cvairwerks]

Think of all the potential leaks due to fitting changes.....Standard hose to 8mm hose barb and then back again. Still have to have the same number of regulators, and most have flow meters on them.

 

[JJohns3WG]

I'd be curios to take the cover off, looks like two flow meters probably just tied together with a T - which you could do with a standard set up. Just have to figure out the right flow rates to get the mix you want

 

[Walkers]

I'd be curios to take the cover off, looks like two flow meters probably just tied together with a T - which you could do with a standard set up. Just have to figure out the right flow rates to get the mix you want

There is actually a picture in the link with the cover off. There are two regulators along with some sort of balance valve.

The reason you don’t see these in a lot of shops is that the real units cost several thousand dollars, so it is cheaper for most to just buy the gas you need.

 

[Steve from Socal]

I have a Tesco/Smith Ar-CO2 mixer on my XMT and use it for short arc and spray welding, they are very handy. I am not sure how well metered these boxes are but the price is cheap enough to try one. You will need regulators on both bottles alongwith hoses etc.

Steve

 

[ItsNemo]

A tank of C25 and a pure Argon does 99% of what anyone does in the home shop. There's better mixes (e.g. tri-mix) for other processes than just mixing up CO2 and Argon variations.

What do most people do? Mild steel, stainless, aluminum...right? MIG short circuit or TIG, probably not spray transfer MIG...right? So...

C25 for mild steel with MIG
Trimix (He, Ar, CO2) for stainless with MIG - can't do this with a mixer
Argon for aluminum with MIG
Argon for mild steel with TIG
Argon for stainless with TIG
Argon for aluminum with TIG

So looks to me like a tank of Argon and a tank of C25 is plenty.

 

[Rccrawlerguy]

I have 3 tanks. Pure argon, C25, and a CO2 just for dirt cheap welding. That covers my needs

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/m2sAAOSwDUpgpdeN/s-l500.jpg

So, I wonder if you still need regulators, or are those it on the left.? If they are, I wonder how long that cheap clear tubing will last?(..boom)

 

[Steve from Socal]

Even the Smith mixers have issues with the internal hoses, I had to replace a CO2 hose earlier this year. The pics of the box show flow meters on the front, they need low pressure. The input is listed at 1 MPa max that is 145 PSI, outlet pressure is 50 PSI max.

Steve

 

[ArkTinkerer]

There is actually a picture in the link with the cover off. There are two regulators along with some sort of balance valve.

The reason you don’t see these in a lot of shops is that the real units cost several thousand dollars, so it is cheaper for most to just buy the gas you need.

I was thinking those might be check valves?

 

[ArkTinkerer]

Other welding forums had posts about people trying to DIY their own units. There was some discussion of the gasses not really getting mixed. Was hoping someone here had first hand experience with these.

 

[WILD-BILL]

Looks like either way you end up with 2 bottles.

A bottle of pure CO2 and a bottle of pure Ar and hope that mixer does it's job.

OR

A bottle of C25 and a bottle pure Ar and either switch the flow meter from tank to tank each time or set em up with a flow meter for each with a Y junction and valves and not have to worry if you have good gas.

 

[86turbodsl]

A good Smith mixer is fiendishly expensive. And if you have TIG already, you probably don't need tri-mix for stainless Mig. Helium is in short supply anyway. So the only way you probably would need a mixer is if you are doing some special process like spray or something. You're not going to save any money really.

 

[Jlarson]

We used to have a shopbrew mix setup we messed with, doesn't get used anymore. We do a lot of different **** both in the shop and the field, 100% argon, 75/25 and 100% Co2, all we ever use if we aren't rocking the FCAW or SMAW.

IDK how many different mix voodoo's they've tried to sell us on over the years, untill there's a trimix or whatever that does the weld for me I'm out.