Best Gas For MIG Welding – Buying Guide & Reviews
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If you are going to be doing any MIG welding processes you will need argon gas. Welding gas tanks are designed to hold argon gas in a safe manner. We have had several people ask us to write an article detailing these gas cylinders and the different properties they have.
We asked some MIG welding experts to teach us more about the canisters and to educate our readers on which gas bottles were best, and what features they should look for when buying a gas tank.
Our panel of welding experts never fails us and they reviewed several cylinders and then recommended the following ones.
We also thought about your safety while using this gas for your purpose. Regarding this we also reviewed for the top gas regulators which will control the flow of the gas while welding.
Comparison Chart Of Our Favorites
Image | Name | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Meets DOT and/or ISO regulations. | ||
 | All HP cylinders are within 2 years of stamped date. | ||
 | DOT number is stamped on the tank. | ||
 | Rated Safety on Valve: 3,360 psi |
Best Welding Gas for MIG 2022 Reviews
1. Generic Argon Welding Gas Cylinder Tank
Specifications
- Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 36 inches
- Meets DOT and/or ISO regulations.
- Installation Method: Arc-welding
- Safety on Valve: 3,360 psi
This gas container has a date stamp that reveals when the hydro test will reach 10 years. Any of these cylinders that you buy will have been hydro tested within the last two years. You do not have to worry about purchasing a tank that is almost ready to have its hydro test expire so it will have to be tested again. This tank is safe and ready to use.
Before the tank is shipped it undergoes a 2,015 psi pressure test to make certain that it does not leak. It has a rated safety value of 3,360 psi.
The cylinder is a 125 cubic foot steel tank designed to hold high pressure gases like argon. It has a working pressure of 3AA2265 and a test pressure of 3775. The diameter of the tank is 7 ¼”, the tank is 41 ½” long and it weighs fifty pounds when empty.
These tanks are brand new and are not old tanks that have simply been repainted. The tank is painted black. The tank comes prefilled with Argon gas and will be delivered right to your front door by FedEx shipping.
The tank meets or exceeds the DOT or ISO recommendations and regulations concerning argon gas containers. The DOT numbers are clearly stamped on the side of the tank.
Pros
Cons
2. Argon CGA 580 Welding Gas for MIG
Specifications
- Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 22 inches
- Manufacturer: Weldfabulous
- Weight: 7.28 pounds
- 10 year hydrotest date stamped.
This tank weighs 50.7 pounds. It has the date of the hydro test expiration stamped on the side. All of the tanks are shipped within two years of being inspected so you have plenty of years of service before your tank has to be recertified.
The tank has the DOT number stamped on the side. It has all of the safety requirements need to pass DOT and ISO regulations. It is a safe tank that is ready to be used. It will be pressure tested before it is shipped to your location.
The pressure test will be a 2,015 psi test because the tank is filled to the standard 2,015 psi. The pressure test ensures that the cylinder is not leaking and is functioning properly when it is shipped.
The cylinder is an 80 cubic foot high-pressure gas tank made from steel. It has a working pressure of 3AA2015 and a test pressure of 3360. The diameter of the tank is 7 ¼”, it is 32 ½” long, and weighs 35 pounds.
You should contact your local gas supplier to verify that they will refill the tank when the initial gas is discharged from it.
Pros
Cons
3. 100% Argon Cylinder Tank Welding Gas
Specifications
- Safety on Valve: 3,360 psi
- Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 36 inches
- Part number: ZZ80ARS-FULL
- Manufacturer: Weldfabulous
This welding gas cylinder meets or exceeds all of the requirements and recommendations established by the DOT and ISO. The SOT numbers are stamped on the side of the cylinder for quick reference.
The cylinder has passed a hydro test that is good for a ten year period. The date of the hydro test is stamped on the tank and all tanks are shipped within 2 years of being tested. You have at least eight years before the tank will require another hydro test.
The rated safety valve of the tank is 3,360 psi, and the tank is filled to the industry standard of 2,015 psi for safety. Before the tanks are shipped they are pressure tested at 2,015 psi to make sure the cylinder has no leaks and the proper amount of gas is inside.
This is a 40 cubic foot high pressure gas bottle that is made from steel. It has a working pressure rating of 3AA20145, and it has a test pressure rating of 3360. The tank has a diameter of 6 ¾”, it is 16 3/8” in length, and it weighs 17 pounds.
The tank will be delivered right to your door and it is ready to use when it arrives.
Pros
Cons
4. Generic Argon Tank Welding Gas Cylinder
Specifications
- Weight: 69 pounds
- Dimensions: 6 x 1 x 46 inches
- Part number: ZZ125ARS-FULL
- Manufacturer: Weldfabulous
This tank has passed a hydro test and will have the date of the test stamped on it. You do not have to have a tank hydro tested but once every ten years. The tank is guaranteed to have been tested for no longer than two years so there are still eight years of active service available before the tank needs a new hydro test.
This tank weighs 35 pounds. It is 32 ½” long and has a diameter of 7 ¼”. The tank is regulated to have a working pressure equaling 3AA2015 and it has a test pressure no greater than 3360. It is an 80 cubic foot high pressure tank that is crafted from steel.
The tank meets all industry standards as detailed by the DOT and ISO. The Dot numbers are stamped on the side of the tank.
The tank ships filled with argon gas and you must check with your local gas supplier to see what their rules are about refilling personally owned gas bottles. The gas bottle cannot be returned due to DOT regulations.
Pros
Cons
How To Choose The Best Welding Gas for MIG Welding
Before you buy a welding gas tank you need to consider some of the features of these tanks so you can buy the right one for you need.
Size of tank
The size of the gas tank will not affect the quality of the gas inside the bottle. You choose smaller gas bottles if you seldom weld and simply use the tank to support a hobby, or around the house occasional welding jobs. If you do a lot more welding then you will want to get a larger welding gas bottle so you do not have to go as often and get your bottle refilled.
Hydro test date
Hydrostatic testing is done to make sure that the gas cylinder is self-contained and has no leaks. The cylinder is completely filled with water to push all of the air in the tank out. Then the bottle is pressurized to a point that is as much as five times greater than the pressure the bottle is designed to withhold.
The pressure is retained for a specific amount of time and a visual test for leaks, cracks, or damages is performed. Fluorescent dyes are applied to make any cracks show. Once the bottle passes the hydrostatic testing it will be given a stamp of approval that is good for a ten year period of time.
Is it shipped with gas?
You want to know if you are getting an empty gas bottle or a bottle that is filled with the welding gas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Is welding gas dangerous?
The welding gas cylinder you use for MIG or TIG welding processes is safe to use but you should use some precautions when dealing with these tanks. Do not ever lift the tank by the valve cap.
Never drag these cylinders or slide them along on the ground. Be careful not to drop the cylinder. Never store a gas bottle close to an open flame. Never mix the gases use an argon cylinder strictly for argon, and a helium cylinder strictly for helium.
Q. Are there different sizes of welding gas tanks?
There are different sizes of argon gas cylinders. These cylinders may hold 21 cubic feet of gas, and the holding amount goes up to a limit of about 335 cubic feet of argon gas. There are 8 different cylinder sizes and you buy the one that will allow you to do your work without making frequent stops for gas refills. Know more about different types of welding gases here.
Q. How long will a tank of Argon gas last?
The average amount of time that argon gas lasts is ten hours at a flow rate of 20 to 25 cubic feet per hour. Your average household tank is somewhere between a 60cf and 80cf flowing at a rate of 20cfh. The average household tank has enough gas for 3 to 4 hours at these rates.
Final Note
If you do a lot of welding projects and feel that you need to have a large amount of argon gas on hand to support that welding consider the 125 cubic foot Generic Argon Tank. This is an industry tested tank that meets or exceeds the DOT and ISO regulations.
If you do not weld that often and simply need a small amount of argon gas on hand consider the smaller 100% Argon Gas bottle that holds 40 cubic feet. You will have enough shielding gas to allow you to weld for a continuous 3 to 4 hours.
Last Updated on 1 year by Richard Boyer
