Bad bottle, again.

[Gadgeteer]

This is, really, getting old. Couple weeks ago I was in the middle of a simple project, gluing together a handrail for the front stoup. I was congratulating myself for the beautiful, shiny mild steel beads on the filets, as the gas was decreasing in the tank. Then, the tank was just a few pounds from empty, so I called the LWS. Told me a fresh Q tank would be in on Friday. Called LWS on Friday to make sure they had fresh bottle before driving 25 miles to pick it up. No bottles. Clerk said he had a stubby of Argon, so I drove to pick it up.

Hooked up when I got home and went back to railing project. Gas inclusion in beads, so I switched to aluminum. Hard to establish bead, carbon contamination, little to no etching along beads. When I attempt to introduce rod into the puddle the end of the rod, immediately, balls up, inside a glob of crud. Just junk. 2,000 psi, running at 10 to 20 CFH at torch. Only difference in setup was new bottle.

I've had several bottles with bad gas, but it didn't show up until pressure got to about 500 psi.

Does anyone have tips on a sure-fire way to test jugs for gas quality?

[arizonian]

I'm confused. From steel to aluminum without changing anything but the bottle and filler mat'l?

[Gadgeteer]

Originally Posted by arizonian

I'm confused. From steel to aluminum without changing anything but the bottle and filler mat'l?

Perhaps, you're easily confused.

After running old bottle down... I unhooked it... leaving gauges, hose, torch as was.

When I got home with new "stubby" I hooked up the untampered gauge, hose, torch that were just the same, as I had left them. So, the only thing that was different in the setup was the new bottle of gas. But, after changing only the bottle, the beads on steel were showing signs of inclusion of something (gas?) that ruined the beads, not at all like the ones I had achieved with the old bottle of Argon.

To further test for bad gas I switched over to aluminum by throwing the conversion switch on the machine from steel to aluminum. Didn't think I'd have to draw a picture to help you understand my methods.

[arizonian]

Originally Posted by Gadgeteer

Perhaps, you're easily confused.

After running old bottle down... I unhooked it... leaving gauges, hose, torch as was.

When I got home with new "stubby" I hooked up the untampered gauge, hose, torch that were just the same, as I had left them. So, the only thing that was different in the setup was the new bottle of gas. But, after changing only the bottle, the beads on steel were showing signs of inclusion of something (gas?) that ruined the beads, not at all like the ones I had achieved with the old bottle of Argon.

To further test for bad gas I switched over to aluminum by throwing the conversion switch on the machine from steel to aluminum. Didn't think I'd have to draw a picture to help you understand my methods.

Mea culpa

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by Gadgeteer

Only difference in setup was new bottle.

I've had several bottles with bad gas, but it didn't show up until pressure got to about 500 psi.

Does anyone have tips on a sure-fire way to test jugs for gas quality?

This looks like, from the pictures, as if the laminar flow is disrupted and pulling air into the mix. I would start to look elsewhere at this point. The odds of getting 2 bad bottles in a row are astronomical.
I had a similar issue a few years back, and I solved it by putting a .025" flow restrictor in line at the machine to prevent a surge of gas when I pulled the trigger. Every time I started it took an inch or more for the bead to quit foaming and become satisfactory.

As a test, try backing down the flow meter to 1/2 what you are using now and see if it makes a difference. You can get the same disruption to flow with a super dirty gas shield, but I doubt if that is your issue.

[Ironman]

Here is the laminar flow info I was talking about about in a video.
They are pedaling their product but the information is still valid.

[camdigger]

These posts make me think I did the right thing by getting rid of my MIG and going exclusively to flux only processes.

[toprecycler]

Originally Posted by Ironman

This looks like, from the pictures, as if the laminar flow is disrupted and pulling air into the mix. I would start to look elsewhere at this point. The odds of getting 2 bad bottles in a row are astronomical.
I had a similar issue a few years back, and I solved it by putting a .025" flow restrictor in line at the machine to prevent a surge of gas when I pulled the trigger. Every time I started it took an inch or more for the bead to quit foaming and become satisfactory.

As a test, try backing down the flow meter to 1/2 what you are using now and see if it makes a difference. You can get the same disruption to flow with a super dirty gas shield, but I doubt if that is your issue.

I don’t think he said he had two bad bottles in a row, just the last time he he had it happen the tank was nearing empty.


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[Oscar]

Originally Posted by Gadgeteer

Gas inclusion in beads?

I would like to know exactly what you mean by this. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.

[Ironman]

Originally Posted by Oscar

I would like to know exactly what you mean by this. A picture is worth a thousand words, as they say.

See this site.
If you cut or grind open a weld bead and you see worm holes in the bead, that's gas inclusion, and not from the shielding gas.