Product Manual

FIREPOWER FP 125,135,165
OPERATION 4-12 Manual 0-5123
4.16 Gas Selection for Gas Metal Arc Welding
Metal Type
Base Plate
Thickness Filler Metal
Transfer
Mode
Suggested
Shielding Gas
Welding
Positions Comments
Carbon
Steel
Greater than
22 gauge
(.030”)
ER70S-X Short Circuit 100% CO
2
All Position
Welding
High welding speeds. Good penetration and pool
control.
Greater than
22 gauge
(.030”)
ER70S-X Short Circuit 75% Argon
25% CO2
All Position
Welding
Suitable for high-current and high-speed welding.
Greater than
22 gauge
(.030”)
ER70S-X Short Circuit 92% Argon
8% CO2
All Position
Welding
Higher deposition rates without melt-through.
Minimum distortion and spatter. Good pool control
for out-of-position welding.
Greater than
10 gauge
(1/8”)
ER70S-X Spray
Transfer
92% Argon
8% CO2
Flat & HV
Fillet
Good arc stability, weld soundness, and increasing
width of fusion.
Low Alloy
and
High Alloy
Steel
Greater than
22 gauge
(.030”)
See Note 1 Short Circuit
Globular
75% Argon
25% CO2
All Position
Welding
High welding speeds. Good penetration and pool
control. Applicable for out-of-position welds.
Suitable for high-current and high-speed welding.
Greater than
22 gauge
(.030”)
See Note 1 Short Circuit 92% Argon
8% CO2
All Position
Welding
Good coalescence and bead contour. Good
mechanical properties.
Greater than
3/32”
See Note 1 Spray
transfer
92% Argon
8% CO2
Flat & HV
Fillet
Reduces undercutting. Higher deposition rates
and improved bead wetting. Deep penetration and
good mechanical properties.
Greater than
14 gauge
(.075”)
See Note 1 Short Circuit 98% Argon
2% CO2
All Position
Welding
Good control of melt-through and distortion. Used
also for spray arc welding. Pool fluidity sometimes
sluggish depending on the base alloy.
Stainless
Steel
Greater than
22 gauge
(.030”)
ER308-X
ER309-X
ER316-X
Short Circuit 90% Helium
7.5% Argon
2.5% CO2 or
81% Argon
18% Helium
1 % CO2
All Position
Welding
Low CO
2
percentages in Helium mix minimizes
carbon pickup, which can cause intergranular
corrosion with some alloys. Helium improves
wetting action and contour. CO
2
percentages
above 5% should be used with caution on some
alloys.
Greater than
3/32”
ER308-X
ER309-X
ER316-X
Spray
Transfer
90% Helium
7.5% Argon
2.5% CO2 or
81% Argon
18% Helium
1 % CO2
Flat & HV
Fillet
Good arc stability. Produces a fluid but controllable
weld pool, good coalescence, and bead contour.
Minimizes undercutting on heavier thickness.
Aluminum Greater than
18 gauge
(.045”)
ER4043
ER5356
Spray
Transfer
Argon All Position
Welding
Excellent cleaning action. Provides more stable arc
than helium-rich mixtures.
Note 1: Contact your Filler Metal Supplier for recommended filler metal for the base metal to be welded.
Table 4-3: Gas Selection GMAW