How close to Empty do we use Argon bottles?

[vdotmatrix]

I am in the middle or the start of a new TIG welding project.

My two bottles are less than 500, one about 200 another about 400.

So I was wondering what most people do?

Are the regulators accurate enough?

How close to empty to we suck the bottles down?

Thanks in advance.

[jfk92]

I run it until it's empty - i.e. the weld puddle flames out brown soot. Seems my needle buries down to very close to zero for a while before this happens too from what I've noticed.

[shovelon]

I like to run the needle to the post or until I pickup contaminants. Otherwise I leave just enough pressure as to not let in moisture.

[vdotmatrix]

Okay!!! Thanks to everyone who responded....who would have thunk I would be needing ARGON again.

[sapperb]

I run it down to about 100....

[Welder Dave]

Depends on how critical the weld is and the position it's in. On critical work a lot of places change cylinders at around 100 PSI so there's no chance of running out of shielding gas. It can be a real pain to have to grind out a bad weld in an awkward location. On less critical stuff you could use till you notice a problem.

[snoeproe]

I run mine to completely empty. Then replace with full. Gas is too expensive to return the bottle not empty.

[BD1]

All my home tanks, run until empty.
Work tanks were different. Shop truck deliveries to job determines when we return.
We would tag tank contents of cylinders so shop could use them up.


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[Stick-man]

I also run al cylinders empty, with the exception of those for scuba lol

[Reebz]

I don't tig but I run my bottle empty. Unless I have a ton of welding to do one the weekend and fear I will not make it.

[shasti]

I run my argon bottle until it empty

[Munkul]

run to empty. Several times I've actually used it right to the point of arcing up and getting nothing.

[danielplace]

That is where all the bad gas comes from. From guy's that don't leave pressure in the tank. You like to leave the valve open too so it can air out ? Lol.

You are never "SUPPOSED" to run them empty. When they are empty they have to vacuum the tank down before they can fill it. While no gas supplier enforces it they often have a charge for running them empty. It takes a lot longer to fill if you have to vacuum it down first.

[Munkul]

That is where all the bad gas comes from. From guy's that don't leave pressure in the tank. You like to leave the valve open too so it can air out ? Lol.

You are never "SUPPOSED" to run them empty. When they are empty they have to vacuum the tank down before they can fill it. While no gas supplier enforces it they often have a charge for running them empty. It takes a lot longer to fill if you have to vacuum it down first.

I'd argue that any supplier that doesn't vacuum bottles down first, is a poor supplier.