Best online shop to buy span gas cylinder in UK: There are two shielding gases commonly used for arc welding aluminum, and these are argon and helium. These gases are used as pure argon, pure helium and various mixtures of both argon and helium. Excellent welds are often produced using pure argon as a shielding gas. Pure argon is the most popular shielding gas and is often used for both gas metal arc and gas tungsten arc welding of aluminum. Mixtures of argon and helium are probably the next common, and pure helium is generally only used for some specialized GTAW applications.

Safety: While argon is a good fit for a variety of welding jobs, it can be a safety risk. As with any gas work, there are steps to take to prevent causing an accident. Argon is stored in high-pressure tanks, and although its inert qualities mean that it doesn’t easily react to other chemicals, it is essential to be fully trained in handling and transporting gases to minimise the risk of accidents and hazards. The risk of gas leaking or spilling needs to be taken seriously; gas should be stored in a well-ventilated room. Argon is colourless and odourless so ensuring ventilation is available and that tanks are sealed adequately is critical.

And for hobby welders and small businesses without the space to spare for a standard-sized cylinder, there’s even the choice of a more practically sized lightweight 2-litre Argoshield Light that takes up less space at home or in a van. Argoshield Universal contains the same amount of oxygen as Argoshield Light but slightly less argon and more CO2. It produces smooth, flat welds with fewer weld defects and with its low spatter performance reduces the need for rework. It’s best used when productivity and low levels of distortion are important – such as semi-automatic, automatic and robotic applications in the automotive industry. See extra info on Calibration Gas Regulator.

Nitrogen can be used for duplex steels to avoid nitrogen loss in the weld metal. The purity of the gas used for root protection should be at least 99.995%. When gas purging is impractical, root flux can be an alternative. In submerged-arc welding (SAW) and electro-slag welding (ESW), the shield is achieved by a welding flux, completely covering the consumable, the arc and the molten pool. The flux also stabilizes the electric arc. The flux is fused by the heat of the process, creating a molten slag cover that effectively shields the weld pool from the surrounding atmosphere. There are no rental charges on the cylinders. A large range of Calibration Gas regulator(s) are available from stock. Carry cases to compliment the cylinders are also available. The cylinders are non-refillable.

For gas shielded welding processes such as TIG, MIG/MAG, FCAW, shielding gases may be inert gases, such as argon, helium and nitrogen, or argon-based mixtures containing carbon dioxide, oxygen or both. Helium may be added to argon/carbon dioxide mixtures to improve productivity. Carbon dioxide (CO2) may be used, on its own, in MAG and FCAW. With the exception of CO2 , these gases are not defined as hazardous to health under the COSHH Regulations but they are asphyxiants. CO2 has a long-term exposure limit of 5000ppm (8-hour TWA reference period) and 15000ppm short-term exposure limit (15-minute reference period). None of the gases can be seen and none have a smell – so their presence in hazardous concentrations is difficult to detect without prior knowledge or measuring equipment. Source: www.weldingsuppliesdirect.co.uk.