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Willin
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2019
Posts: 256
Location: Bozeman Mt
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 Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2025 8:54 am Post subject: MIG gas |
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I just got a new welder. An Eastwood 140. Have only used it so far with flux core. Works, day and night, better than the cheapest HF(Flux 125) welder I have been using.
My question is about using it with gas. It came with hose, and regulator. I know gas gives much cleaner welds.
I see 75% Argon/25% Co2 recommended for welding steel.
I also see 100% Co2 recommended for sheet metal.
I want to replace some rusty sheet metal on my bus. But there is heavier gage, structural metal to be fixed too. Along with general welding to be done in the shop.
Do I need two bottles of different gas?
What do you guys use, and when?
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit". |
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67rustavenger
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Joined: February 24, 2015
Posts: 10990
Location: Oregon
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| Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2025 10:10 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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| Willin wrote: |
75% Argon/25% Co2 recommended for welding steel.
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This is what I use for all general purpose welding on my VW's when needed.
Get a larger bottle than you think you're gonna need. You'd be surprised how fast you'll run out, especially when you really need to finish your project.
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2003 Astrovan? GFYS again, Xevin!  |
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Willin
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2019
Posts: 256
Location: Bozeman Mt
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2025 8:09 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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75/25 for sheet metal too? Sheet metal is just thin steel.
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit". |
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orwell84
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2007
Posts: 2767
Location: Plattsburgh, New York
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| Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2025 9:57 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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| Willin wrote: |
| 75/25 for sheet metal too? Sheet metal is just thin steel. |
Yes. The argomix is what’s typically used and widely available for MIG welding. And yes, get the biggest bottle they will allow you. Good luck with your projects. |
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Willin
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2019
Posts: 256
Location: Bozeman Mt
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2025 8:22 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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Sounds good.
Thank you!
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit". |
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esde
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2007
Posts: 6316
Location: central rust belt
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| Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2025 7:27 pm Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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Co2 will give you better penetration at the same setting than co2/argon. BUT, it also produces more spatter..
I would say learn on the co2/argon blend, as it is what most people use. Asking questions and learning what does or doesn't work will be easier to talk about than if you're using straight co2
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Willin
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2019
Posts: 256
Location: Bozeman Mt
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| Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2025 9:07 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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esde, that is good info!
Thanks!
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73 bus. Org. 1700 with dual Weber 40 idfs, bus header with Empi qp muffler, CB magnaspark 2 " ready to run kit". |
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raygreenwood
Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2008
Posts: 23092
Location: Oklahoma City
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| Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2025 6:08 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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| Willin wrote: |
esde, that is good info!
Thanks! |
I have an Eastwood 140. I have used it for about 10 years. It's actually a pretty good welder. It's a better welder than I am 
Its vood for sheet metal because it has continuously variable wire and current controls. For sheet metal, use the smallest diameter wire and tip you can.
I bought new and more accurate gauges for mine at McMaster Carr. First, because I snapped one off
but I was also kind of worried about the accuracy of the low pressure gauge because I always seemed to use higher gas pressure than people I talked to say they used for similar work..
One of the guys at the local welding supply noted that he started out with an Eastwood 135 or 140 and said it did well but noted that for whatever reason they seem to be "gas pigs" as he put it and I realized he was right. For almost every setting, to get a good bead I was seeing the need for gas flow of about 3-5 psi more than many other people and welders would think you should have on other welders with the same wire. Just something in the design.
When I first started working with it and bought gas, I asked a lot of questions of the guy at Praxair....for what I was originally working with....which was subframe welding on my 412 (pressed and welded steel parts about 0.080" to 0.100" thick.....he suggested starting with Stargon 90/8/2 gas. It worked very well and very clean.
Because its a light welder, good weld puddles either took a moderrate amount of current or a bit of pre-heating with a propane torch. With the Stargon gas, It took less current because the oxygen in the mix produced more heat quicker.
However later when I started welding front end sheet metal....I realized that the 90/8/2 was killing me so I went to 75/25 and it's much easier to control.
Ray |
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Willin
Samba Member
Joined: October 10, 2019
Posts: 256
Location: Bozeman Mt
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| Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2025 10:24 am Post subject: Re: MIG gas |
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Thank you for that insight Ray!
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