MIG Gas & Equipment Guide
Determine your gas-related welding needs with this helpful information
Suggested Airgas Shielding Gases
Small Machines – Mild Steel Applications
- Argon/CO2 mix 75/25 industrial grade
- Available in various cylinder sizes
- ARCAL™ Flux
- Only available in size 300 cylinders
Mid-size Machines – Mild Steel Applications
- Argon/CO2 mix 75/25
- Various size cylinders
- Will allow short circuit transfer only
- ARCAL Flux
- Only available in size 300 cylinders
- ARCAL Force
- Will allow short circuit and spray transfer
- Only available in size 300 cylinders
Mid-size Machines – Stainless Steel Applications
- ARCAL M12 He35
- Will allow short circuit and spray transfer
- Only available in size 300 cylinders
- ARCAL Chrome
Mid-size Machines – Aluminum Applications
- Argon industrial grade
- For all thickness below ¼″
- Available in various cylinder sizes
- ARCAL Prime
- For all thickness above ¼″
- Only available in size 300 cylinders
- ARCAL He20
- For all thickness above ¼″
- Only available in size 300 cylinders
ARCAL shielding gases are equipped with either SMARTOP™ or EXELTOP™
Welding and Industrial Pure Gases High-pressure Cylinders
Cylinder Color Identification
Experience simply high performance with ARCAL premium shielding gases for welding
If you want to improve productivity, reduce operating costs and create a safer work environment, ARCAL premium shielding gases for welding are the simple choice. Exceeding AWS, the ARCAL Reference line consists of five ready-to-weld pure argon and argon/CO2 welding gas mixtures that can help you safely produce higher quality welds.
Supply Mode Options
Versatility in delivery options—That pretty well summarizes Airgas’ unique offering with industrial gases. Along with a wide variety of gases, we provide supply chain expertise so you’ll get exactly what you need, where you need it, and when you need it, whether you have one location close by or many locations nationwide.
Cylinders—We have more than 12 million cylinders in circulation supporting customers’ needs. High-pressure cylinders for argon, oxygen, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen and ARCAL premium shielding gases for our welding applications are available in sizes from 20 cubic feet to over 300 cubic feet. Low-pressure cylinders are available for propane, propylene and other fuel gases.
Liquid cylinders—If you use large numbers of cylinders, you may consider liquid cylinders as a more efficient supply mode. These vacuum jacketed containers hold liquefied gases and are designed for reliable, economical transportation. Liquid cylinder capacity is measured in liters. The most common delivery sizes are 160, 180, 196 and 230 liters.
MicroBulk—As your need for higher gas volumes increases, time lost to changing out cylinders and gas lost to venting liquid cylinders can take a bigger bite out of your bottom line. A more cost-effective, easy-to-implement solution is Airgas MicroBulk. It’s the perfect way to get the cost efficiencies of bulk gas deliveries, but in smaller volumes.
Bulk—For the large-volume gas users, bulk deliveries provide the most cost-effective solution. Airgas bulk tanks are installed at the customer's site and regular bulk-truck deliveries are scheduled.
In addition to cylinders, liquid cylinders, MicroBulk and bulk deliveries, Airgas also provides tube trailers and other high-pressure ground storage solutions.
