inline five
Well-known member
I have a Miller Passport. For those who aren't familiar it was one of the first inverter MIG 120/240 machines to come out. It's about 50# and in a pelican case. Uses CO2 fed from a paintball 12oz CO2 bottle or can accept a rear hookup from a larger tank. 180 amps.
I exclusively use the paintball bottles because I don't weld too often but love the portability and compactness (no welding cart needed, even in my garage).
So here is the deal...CO2 used at paintball fields is now on the decline, and no one around (fairly large city) refills them anymore. Even Airgas. I'm also worried about future availability of 12 oz bottles that are legal/hydro'd/not too out of date. It seems everything online is out of stock or backordered that is reasonably priced. 5-10 years down the line, will they even be produced?
So either I have to buy a 5lb CO2 tank from Airgas plus refill kit and refill my own bottles (or run rear hookup which defeats the portability aspect), or I can sell my Passport and pick up a newer inverter unit down the road.
Thoughts? Ugh. I hate making this decision, but the availability aspect of the bottles and refills is starting to concern me.
My only other option is to buy some 12oz bottles now, and refill via the dry ice method which I do with my soda streams. Not sure how good the shielding gas would be though.
Edit: I'll also need a new gun...I bought the unit used and the gun was swapped out with a Tweco one which isn't in the greatest of shape.
I exclusively use the paintball bottles because I don't weld too often but love the portability and compactness (no welding cart needed, even in my garage).
So here is the deal...CO2 used at paintball fields is now on the decline, and no one around (fairly large city) refills them anymore. Even Airgas. I'm also worried about future availability of 12 oz bottles that are legal/hydro'd/not too out of date. It seems everything online is out of stock or backordered that is reasonably priced. 5-10 years down the line, will they even be produced?
So either I have to buy a 5lb CO2 tank from Airgas plus refill kit and refill my own bottles (or run rear hookup which defeats the portability aspect), or I can sell my Passport and pick up a newer inverter unit down the road.
Thoughts? Ugh. I hate making this decision, but the availability aspect of the bottles and refills is starting to concern me.
My only other option is to buy some 12oz bottles now, and refill via the dry ice method which I do with my soda streams. Not sure how good the shielding gas would be though.
Edit: I'll also need a new gun...I bought the unit used and the gun was swapped out with a Tweco one which isn't in the greatest of shape.
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