TIG WELDING TIME WITH TANK SIZE

Adam C.

GT40s Sponsor
I keep TWO 125’s on hand at all times.
It is not uncommon to go through one in a weekend.

I would have 300s, but they require a lease contract.

Usage rate depends on if you are using a gas lens or back purge.

While learning to TIG you will be very slow and you will go through a lot of gas.

Short answer is go 125 or larger right out the gate.
 
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I went through what is said to be a 55 cubic foot tank in 3.5 - 4 feet of practice welding, is this to be expected or do I have a leak. My MIG tank is the same size and have used 4 pounds of wire per tank, even with the post flow I expected more.
 

Adam C.

GT40s Sponsor
Yeah it will be hard to do much more than strike an arc with a 55.

MIG is usually ~3 cfh while TIG will be 5-10 without a lens, or 20-30 with. Back purge will be ~3 for a stainless header primary (continuous!)

Your gas supplier should let you trade up no problem.
 
I got a used 300 with my TIG and went through 2 full tanks with the majority of making my chassis with mostly a gas lense. I did find I went through the second bottle significantly faster due to using a longer supply hose (standard was 4ft vs 25ft) when I needed to work across the shop but not move my large bottle. Not sure how many hours of welding but it was a few LOL. IMO go with the largest you can find & handle. This one is really heavy and there may be a day when I get older that it will be too large for me to deal with.
 
I have just signed up for an introduction to TIG welding course at the local Tafe, so I suspect I am about to use a bit of this gas as well :)
 
Thanks for the reply's guys.
Spring of 2024 the 55 cubic feet tank cost $55 CAN to fill, now September $65 the 110 cubic feet tank cost $75 for the fill. So it will be expensive to learn but when you run your first aluminum weld it is very satisfying.
 

Howard Jones

Supporter
Another consideration can be tank weight. I can't move around the 300s anymore. I have a 125 and it weighs about 60-70 pounds. The 300s were twice that. Also don't buy a tank that you intend to keep and refill. An exchange program with a local welding supply where you simply exchange your empty tank for a different but same-size filled one is a much better way to go. You will never have to recertify tanks that way.

How big? I have no idea how much you intend to weld. Having said that I think I still recommend a 125 and if you need more gas on hand then just get a second tank. I believe you can return the second tank at the end of a big project to the welding supply store, Ask them. This will keep the weight per tank low and still keep enough gas on hand,

For example, I tig-welded a complete set of headers for my SLC with a full 125. I also welded all my water pipes together for the SLC and back-gassed them (stainless requires back-gassing and more gas) with a full 125. My most recent project was a new set of steel engine mounts for my SLC. I started that project with only 500 lb/inch in the tank, and it was fine. They hold more than you think.

So my vote is a 125 unless you have a commercial requirement. Find a welding supply store and go in and ask about exchange tanks and available sizes. Where I live the 125s and 300s are the common sizes. You want to be able to take your empty back and exchange it the same day when it runs out.
 
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