Hi guys, I havea clarke 85en gasless MIG welder, works fine but from what I gather will be inadequate to weld a chassis together.

So, I just bought a cebora Autostar 180 proffesional welder, it's second hand and needs a new torch (having looked into it, it will cost me about £100 to get it up and running, but it only cost me £18 so that's no bother really)

The problem is, it has a large gas line coming out of the back, presumably to connect to a full size co2/argon cylinder. I don't want to fork out for one of these so does anyone know if I can convert the gas line to accept hobby size gas bottles?

Thanks.

Sam

Here it is...
Rescued attachment 03042008118.jpg

On my Cebora, the 4mm pipe comming from the valve in the torch, fits into a converter in the back panel of the welder which then takes the large pipe up to the regulator. If yours is the same you can replace that converter with:

1. A pipe connector 4mm - 4mm then on to the small reg/cylinder. OR

2. A continuous 4mm pipe from the torch through to the cylinder.

You can get a small convertor from 4mm pipe to the 2mm (ish) pipe that the hobby bottles use.
I wouldnt bother with hobby bottles.
Sweet talk your local Landlord for a pub CO2 bottle. Much better than those tin can types which dont last 5 minutes.

You could try a Beer Supplier (not brewery) tell then you are having a party and need a bottle.
Probably wont pay rent on it.

Do make sure you get CO2, as some have nitrogen mixed in which is no good for welding.

Check www.welduk.com

and in particular

http://www.welduk.com/Details.asp?ProductID=86

Its something like that you need to convert the pipe. Assuming you have a small pipe.

^ lol, i'm still on the original disposable bottle i got with my welder. bought it in march last year. done loads of welding with it. disposable will be fine

CO2 hobby bottles last fine. I think i'm onto my third. The Argon C02 bottle I bought has lasted even longer but thats only because it won't weld with it (lovely stable arc through). Although I undersand if it worked it wouldn't have lasted long at all.