MIG Shielding Gas

[TonyC]

Hi Folks,

I've done a little stick welding in my day but I finally got what I've always wanted...a MIG, specifically a Hobart 135. I'm excited about getting started with it but I got a headache reading about all of the shielding gas choices mentioned in this forum. I'm almost afraid to ask but is there such a thing as a good all around gas primarily for steel and maybe some cast metal?

[Sberry]

Welding cast with a feeder is going to be a specialty thing. Forget it and stay with sticks where its easy to change electrodes and many cast sections are thicker and too much for that small feeder. For general use use C25 gas.

[Mike W]

I have been using CO2 for 20 years. I don't get that much splatter to make it an issue. Plus it is cheap.

[Paychk]

Second the CO2!

[LynchMob]

I'm happy with the 75/25 mix, but I'm just a hobby weldor and I've never tried anything else.

[axehind]

I've used C25 myself. Never tried anything else.

axehind

[Blacksmith]

C25 or CO2 will pretty much handle anything you ought to weld with the 135.

[bigolguy]

shielding gas

imma thinking airgas makes a gold gas!?.never heard of [email protected] guys

[Roger]

I always thought welding gas were colorless. What is purpose of the gold?

[Sberry]

I opt for C25, just for the reason that the penetration characteristics are a bit milder and it helps for filling gaps. It also produces a weld with slightly better mechanical properties.

[Roger]

Gold Gas is what Airgas call all of their welding shielding gases.
There are at least 7 different Gold Gas mixes each with its own trademarked name.

With 3 different gas suppliers close by I could have to know more than 20 silly tm names. Try to imagine how many names are used nation wide or world wide. Using such names are needless block to others understanding what your talking about.