Welding Gases
SUPPLYING COREGAS INDUSTRIAL, HOSPITALITY & MEDICAL GASES
Welding gases (or shielding gas) are inert or semi inert gases that are commonly used in several welding processes, most notably gas metal arc welding and gas tungsten arc welding (GMAW and GTAW, more popularly known as MIG and TIG, respectively). Their purpose is to protect the weld area from atmospheric gases, such as oxygen, nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and water vapour. Depending on the materials being welded, these atmospheric gases can reduce the quality of the weld or make the welding process more difficult to use. Improper choice of a welding gas can lead to a porous and weak weld, or to excessive spatter, the latter, while not affecting the weld itself, causes loss of productivity due to the manpower needed to remove the scattered drops.
The important properties of welding gases are their thermal conductivity and heat transfer properties, their density relative to air, and how easy they undergo ionization. Gases heavier than air (e.g. argon) blanket the weld and require lower flow rates than gases lighter than air (e.g. helium). Heat transfer is important for heating the weld around the arc. Ionizability influences how easy the arc starts and how high voltage is required. Welding gases can be used pure, or as a blend of two or three gases.
The thermal conductivity influences weld forming, weld-pool temperature, degassing and welding speed. For example, the welding speed and penetration can be markedly increased by the addition of helium in the MIG and TIG welding of aluminium materials, or by the addition of hydrogen in the TIG welding of stainless steels.
Chemical properties influence the metallurgical behaviour as well as the weld surface qualities. Oxygen for example, burns off alloy constituents and leads to more fluid weld pools, while carbon dioxide adds carbon and gives slightly reinforced welds. Argon and helium show metallurgically neutral behaviour and hydrogen acts as a reducing agent.
Contact your local BJ Howes or Metaland branch for further information and advice. BJ Howes and Metaland supply a wide range of shielding gases for all applications, and can provide solutions, both cost effective and technical for all your applications. We supply some of the highest capacity options in Australia, thereby helping to reduce unit costs, changeover times and labour costs. We also offer potential rental cost reductions.
We provide next day gas delivery or collection from your local store; so you get to choose the most convenient location to get your gas supplies and return your empty cylinders.
Next day delivery: On the Central Coast, if you order your gas before 8:30am, we can provide same day delivery in our purpose build gas delivery truck for our most commonly stocked gases. Rarer gases and special mix gases may take a little longer. If you use a special mix gas on a regular basis, please contact us and we can look at holding stock if required.
In our North West region, we can provide same day or next day delivery for out most common gases. Rarer gases and specialist gases may take a little longer.
Next day delivery: On the Central Coast, if you order your gas before 8:30am, we can provide same day delivery in our purpose build gas delivery truck for our most commonly stocked gases. Rarer gases and special mix gases may take a little longer. If you use a special mix gas on a regular basis, please contact us and we can look at holding stock if required.
In our North West region, we can provide same day or next day delivery for out most common gases. Rarer gases and specialist gases may take a little longer.
Sheilding Gas Selection Chart
Shielding Gas Troubleshooting Guide
See our range of Welding Gases in store
Visit one of our conveniently located branches. Our store are open 5 and half days per week:
Lisarow:
Charmhaven:
Tamworth:
Gunnedah:
Armidale:
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5:00pm | Saturday: 8:00am – 12.30pm
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5:00pm | Saturday: 8:00am – 12.30pm
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5:00pm | Saturday: 8:00am – 12.00pm
Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 5:00pm | Saturday: 8:00am – 12.00pm
Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 5:00pm | Saturday: 8:00am – 12.00pm
Visit one of our conveniently located branches. Our store are open 5 and half days per week:
Lisarow
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5pm | Saturday: 8am – 12.30pm
Charmhaven
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5pm | Saturday: 8am – 12.30pm
Tamworth
Monday – Friday: 7.30am – 5pm | Saturday: 8am – 12.00pm
Gunnedah
Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 5pm | Saturday: 8am – 12.00pm
Armidale
Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 5pm | Saturday: 8am – 12.00pm
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