Helium shortage & eco welder

[sid]

I use argon as a shielding gas for welding aluminum, as is common in the industry.

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by Ryland

it's also used in welding Titanium and a bunch of other scientific stuff.

Thats another thing, I can weld; titanium. I use to MIG weld titanium with argon, but haven't touch titanium welding since about 2006.
I still have titanium stock and titanium welding wire...

If I were to start welding titanium again I would like to try a argon helium mix.

[Mustang Dave]

I've TIG welded titanium with argon. No problems. In fact, I've never used any other shielding gas in mt TIG welding experience.

From what I've read, helium gives better penetration when TIG welding thicker sections of aluminum, but I've never TIG welded any aluminum over 1/4" thick. Argon has always worked for me. Argon also produces a smoother arc, from what I've read.

Also, from what I've read, helium is not a complete dead-end. Alpha emitting radioisotopes (like uranium and thorium) emit helium nuclei. Capture two electrons, and you've got a helium atom.
This phenomenon is used in helium dating.

[redpoint5]

The silicon wafer fab I work at uses helium by the tanker-truck load. I'm not sure of all the processes that use it, but there are superconducting super magnets used in the CZ grow process. The super magnets control thermal convection and oxygen contamination.

So you have 500 lbs of silicon at nearly 2600 degrees F, with a superconducting jacket just inches away at 4 Kelvin, or about -452 F, and an inert argon atmosphere for the crystal to grow. This is a very expensive process, and there has got to be a better way to make photovoltaic cells (or computer chips).

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by Mustang Dave

From what I've read, helium gives better penetration when TIG welding thicker sections of aluminum

That is what I was after, better weld penetration on heavy stuff and less heat use on thinner stuff. If you put a tiny bit (2% or 3%) of CO2 or possibly add some helium in with argon when stainless welding the weld spreads out better, now I put a ton of heat into my stainless welds and the weld doesn't spread any thing like MIG welding mild steel with CO2 or argon/CO2 mix.

Titanium welds great with pure argon.

[gone-ot]

FWIW, Argon is heavier than air while Helium is lighter than air, so argon will tend to "stay" around the weld spot whereas Helium will "float" upwards and away from the weld spot.

[euromodder]

Originally Posted by oil pan 4

Purge and Fill one trailer tire with 55psi of argon (a slow gas) and the other with 55psi of helium (conducts heat 6 times faster than air and something like 8 to 10 times faster than argon)

That helium tyre isn't going to hold its pressure very long.

Diffusion rates for Helium are high due to its small atom size, pressure is high inside the tyre, as is the differential gas pressure to air (very low He content in air) ...

[oil pan 4]

Originally Posted by euromodder

That helium tyre isn't going to hold its pressure very long.

Diffusion rates for Helium are high due to its small atom size, pressure is high inside the tyre, as is the differential gas pressure to air (very low He content in air) ...

That is what every one says but I can't find any that has tried it.

[Mustang Dave]

Helium balloons seem to go flat sooner than balloons filled with air.:shrug:

[oil pan 4]

I was able to stave off buying another piece of equipment.
This weekend I got ahold of a stick welding rod holder with out wire and stuck about 8 feet of salvaged 6ga wire on it.
Long story short I can now use my little lincon SP-135T mig welder for 1/8'' stick (FCAW) welding. I am mainly using it to hard face worn tools and parts.
Also found some helium argon CO2 mixing flow regulators.

Fixing up old stuff is going to be more the way of the future.