A Little *&%$#@# Welding Frustration...

[Podunkfla]

A Little *&%$#@# Welding Frustration...

Sure... I haven't cranked up the MIG in a couple of months... No biggie, right? So today I go out to the shop to weld up a little gate and fence thingie for my ex's best friend. I had already cut all the steel a couple days ago, so it shouldn't have been a big deal to weld it up... eh? WRONG! First thing was my auto-darkening helmet wouldn't work. I shouldn't complain, I guess... It's lasted 14 years. I'll just grab the old fashoned flip-up helmet and get to work.. Right? Flip on the welder and crack open the valve on the argon/co2 tank and... KABLOOIE! I heard a POP sound and the regulator starts leaking big time? Cut off the gas & welder and check it out... Not good! It just ain't regulating... No amount of fiddling with it helps at all. Basicly, I need a new regulator. Of course this just a little freeby job I need to take over to Jacksonville tomorrow for Turkey Day... And, stupid me waited till the last minute to do the job. No time to order the stuff now... So in the AM I guess I'll be driving 160 miles or so to get a new helmet & regulator. Seems that's the nearest ones in stock! *&%$#@#

[madjack]

.................. KABLOOIE!

...are we to assume, you are no longer with us ..........................

[Nitetimes]

OK, so I'll ask....What kablooied????

[Nitetimes]

.................. KABLOOIE!

...are we to assume, you are no longer with us ..........................

I'm still laughin'!!!!!!

[Kevin A]

.................. KABLOOIE!

...are we to assume, you are no longer with us ..........................

Yeah, what he said... Sittin here tryin to figure out "Kablooie"

[madjack]

.................. KABLOOIE!

...are we to assume, you are no longer with us ..........................

Yeah, what he said... Sittin here tryin to figure out "Kablooie"

...generally speaking, KABLOOIE is what proceeds a FUBAR or a SNAFU ...................

[Podunkfla]

Sorry about the KABLOOIE... I accidentally hit the submit key before I finished writing my groaner... No. I'm not blown up. It's just argon/co2... not flammable, thank goodness. 'Cause this has just been one of those days... I definitely shouldn't be messin with stuff that could blow up.

[Nitetimes]

OK, so I'll ask again....What kablooied???? Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

[Podunkfla]

OK, so I'll ask again....What kablooied???? Inquiring minds want to know!!!!

I did finally finish the blurb above... here's what happened:

"KABLOOIE! I heard a POP sound and the regulator starts leaking big time? Cut off the gas & welder and check it out... Not good! It just ain't regulating... No amount of fiddling with it helps at all. Basicly, I need a new regulator. Of course this just a little freeby job I need to take over to Jacksonville tomorrow for Turkey Day... And, stupid me waited till the last minute to do the job. No time to order the stuff now... So in the AM I guess I'll be driving 160 miles or so to get a new helmet & regulator. Seems that's the nearest ones in stock! *&%$#@#"

[Nitetimes]

[
I did finally finish the blurb above... here's what happened:

Ooops, sorry, I didn't notice that you edited the first post. My bad!

[Podunkfla]

Yep... I am darn sure having one of those days when I can't even type ina forum right... Let alone weld anything! Prolly time to have a couple snorts of pain reliver... and go to bed.

[Nitetimes]

Sounds like the diaphragm in the adjuster thingy part popped. You might be able to get it rebuilt pretty reasonable, that is if it's actually one that's worth rebuilding. Not all of them are.
Do you have a set of torches? You should be able to screw the adapter out of the back of them and swap them out until you can get a replacement set.

[Podunkfla]

Sounds like the diaphragm in the adjuster thingy part popped. You might be able to get it rebuilt pretty reasonable, that is if it's actually one that's worth rebuilding. Not all of them are.
Do you have a set of torches? You should be able to screw the adapter out of the back of them and swap them out until you can get a replacement set.

Like you say... Not worth rebuilding when a new one is only $35. Seems everything is disposable these days?

I thought of stealing the reg off the torch... It seems oxy and argon regulators are not the same thread?

[Nitetimes]

Sounds like the diaphragm in the adjuster thingy part popped. You might be able to get it rebuilt pretty reasonable, that is if it's actually one that's worth rebuilding. Not all of them are.
Do you have a set of torches? You should be able to screw the adapter out of the back of them and swap them out until you can get a replacement set.

Like you say... Not worth rebuilding when a new one is only $35. Seems everything is disposable these days?

Ain't that the truth. The one on my welder isn't either. If it goes I'll get a good one. The ones on my torches on the other hand, well that's a different story. Let's just say I am very careful with them!

[Nitetimes]

I thought of stealing the reg off the torch... It seems oxy and argon regulators are not the same thread?

Nope, you'd have to unscrew the tube to the adapter out of the back of the regulator and put the welder one in it. A little pi$$in' around but it saves a whole bunch of drivin' and a mostly wasted day!