How Long Does a Tank of Argon Last For TIG Welding?

Many people believe that the size of the tank is what determines how long it will last, however, that is not always true. It all depends on the welder's usage and needs. Below is more information on how long an argon tank usually lasts.



By reading this article, you will learn:

  • How long a tank of argon should last for TIG welding

  • What size tanks are available for purchase

  • How to get the most out of your argon tank


Size Matters:

When it comes to the size of Argon tanks, there are many different options to choose from. The most common sizes are 80, 125, and 160 cu/ft. The 80 cu/ft. tank is great for light welding and will last approximately 8-12 hours. 125 cu/ft. Gives you about 12-20 hours of welding time and is perfect for general maintenance projects. 

Lastly, the 160 cu/ft. tank provides 20-30 hours of welding time and is usually used for production welding.




Welding Time Depends on Current:

The amount of time you can weld with your argon tank also depends on the welding current being used. If you are using a lower welding current, you can weld for a longer period of time than if you were using a higher welding current.

For example, if you are using a 125 amp welder set at 40 amps, you can weld for approximately 20 minutes per hour, which would give you 12 hours of welding time with a full tank. 

However, if you were using the same 125 amp welder set at 90 amps, you would only be able to weld for 5 minutes per hour or 1 hour total with a full tank. As you can see, there is quite a difference in welding time when changing the welding current being used despite having the same size argon tank.


Get More Out Of Your Argon Tank By Pre-purging:

To get more bang for your buck, it is recommended that you "pre-purge" your argon gas lines before beginning to weld. This means allowing argon gas to flow through your power source and hoses for 2-5 minutes with nothing attached to the end before striking an arc.

Doing this will help remove any contaminants in your gas lines so that you have pure argon gas flowing when you are ready to weld. Not only does pre-purging improve your weld quality by providing purer gas flow, but it also helps preserve your consumables because they will last longer when pre-purged as well.  


Must be read : Weld Stainless Steel with Flux Core Wire


Conclusion: 

In short, it all depends on the welder's usage and needs as to how long an argon tank will last while TIG welding. Be sure to take into account things like seam length being welded, duty cycle needed and appropriate joint preparation techniques in order to get optimal performance from your equipment . The better prepared you are before starting a project ,the less rework or repairs needed after completion ,saving both money and valuable time .

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