Welding Gases
Welding Gases Types
People who do not weld are often uneducated when it comes to the fact that there are many different types of welding gases. People usually understand that welding is combing two types of metals or thermoplastics together in a fabrication process. What they don’t usually realize there is a fusible material involved that combines the two or more pieces and that gas is also required. The Types of Welding Gases Available Many people think gas is gas, and never question what particular type of gas is needed for welding. While sometimes the project and materials can determine which gas is needed, sometimes the gas used is determined by the preference of the welder. The most common type of gas that welders purchase for use is a gas mixed of Argon and carbon dioxide. Different types of welding gases include:
MIG Welding only Has Four Gas Options While there are ten different gas types welders can use, plus the option for mixed gases, some types of welding can only use certain gases. One such example is metal inert gas welding, also known as mig welding. When it comes to aluminum mig welding gas, there are really just four options argon, carbon dioxide, oxygen, and helium. Out of the four, fewer welders use helium for this type of welding. How Welding Gases are Stored Gases for welding are stored in tanks. Welding gas tank sizes come in several standard sizes, each given a size letter to help simplify the process of buying and swapping tanks. Typically, the user has to pay for the first tank or they put down a tank deposit. After that, they can get them re-filled or swap out their empty gas tanks for refilled tanks. Sizes of Welding Gas Tanks The smallest tank is known as an R or 20 size tank. This tank has a capacity of twenty-one cubic feet and weighs an estimated seventeen pounds. One of the larger tanks is a size T tank or 330. This tank has a capacity of three hundred and thirty-five cubic feet and weighs a whopping one hundred and seventy pounds. Tanks are sold in an assortment of sizes between R and T, and there are handy charts out there that can simplify the tank size differences. In conclusion, there are ten main types of gases available for welding projects. Some types of welding, such as mig welding, can only use specific gases. These gasses are stored in gas tanks of different sizes, and each size is given a letter to try to simplify the process of buying and filling tanks. These tanks are also refillable, which means the user only has to buy their first tank or put down a deposit, and then either refill their tank or swap it out for a full tank when they run out of gas. If the welder uses multiple types of gases in their welding projects, then they will need multiple tanks, one for each of their gases. 
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