What's the right way to stow your welder?

[Ferrous]

This might be a dumb question, but I'm new at this, so I have to ask.

I just got my welder set up, a Hobart Handler 187 that I bought after getting a lot of advice on this forum (thank you all for that). I am a hobby welder (or will be once I get going), so it is likely I will only use my welder on weekends, and maybe only a couple of times a month sometimes.

The welder is sitting on a cart and the C25 bottle is chained on the back of the cart. When done welding my first practice welds, I just unplugged the welder, closed the valve on the gas bottle, and wheeled it into a corner of my storage shed.

Is there anything else I should do to it if I'm not going to use it for a week or two? Like, should I release the tension lever on the spool, or disconnect the gas bottle from the welder, or release any gas in the line, or anything like that? Or is it OK to just leave it as I did?

[Pangea]

You did fine. You might throw a small tarp over it if you wont need it for extended periods.

[Some Creep]

I've heard of guys turning off the gas valve and pulling the trigger on the gun for a quick sec before shutting the machine off for the last time. Takes the pressure off the valve and hose for storage.

I've never done it, but I don't have 40 years of trigger time either..... :)

[Ferrous]

Thanks. I believe I can release the gas from the line without advancing the wire by flipping off the wire tensioner on the feed mechanism that is inside the welder.

So shut off the gas valve, flip the wire feed tensioner off, squeeze the trigger for a sec to release the gas, then turn off the power switch and unplug it, throw a tarp over it to keep it clean, wheel it into the shed, grab a beer, and admire my work. Or something like that. :D

[Some Creep]

Nah, you don't even need to release the wire tension. That was my thought too when I heard of doing it but I was told not to worry. It's like only hitting it real quick, like a 1/2" of wire out of the gun or less.

Like I said, I don't do it, but have heard of it being done. You are good the way you are!

[mike6845]

All of the above plus cleaning my tip so when I go to use the welder the next time she is good to go right away. I also like to take an air hose and clean everything up before I cover the welder up.

[Rocky D]

Well, I do have 50 years of trigger time, and I've never done it...let the gas bleed off by itself. I do check to see how long it takes to bleed off...which tells me how tight all my gas connections are.

BTW there's no dumb questions here!

[salvageclaus]

don't your welder have a purge setting below the #1 heat level?

Mine does, and when/if I want to bleed the gas out of the line, all you do is shut the tank valve, turn the control knob to purge and pull the trigger for about 2 seconds. No wire is fed doing this and you don't have to open the door on the welder either.

[tigster]

if you wanted to purge the gas, forget the drive roll tension. turn the main tank valve off. set the WFS (wire feed speed) to minimum, pull the trigger till regulator pressure reads zero. takes maybe 5 seconds. very little wire is used, and can be clipped off. then back out the low pressure side of the regulator until it turns freely. i believe, and correct me if i'm wrong on this, the main reason to purge the gas after use is to the relieve the tension on the spring or diaphragm of the regulator.

to keep the welder and its associated electronic solid state control board at the optimum constant ambient temperature, pressure, and humidity between uses, be sure to store it on the wife's side of the bedroom.

[treborly]

Not to take over your thread.... but i also have a HH187. Winters coming pretty fast over here, i dont got a workshop or anything so i wont be welding for serveral months. I have the welder sitting in a basic wood shed. Is the cold gonna have any negative effects on it?

One more question, is there a minimum temperature where you guys dont use your auto hoods?

thanks.

[whateg0]

if you wanted to purge the gas, forget the drive roll tension. turn the main tank valve off. set the WFS (wire feed speed) to minimum, pull the trigger till regulator pressure reads zero. takes maybe 5 seconds. very little wire is used, and can be clipped off. then back out the low pressure side of the regulator until it turns freely. i believe, and correct me if i'm wrong on this, the main reason to purge the gas after use is to the relieve the tension on the spring or diaphragm of the regulator.

to keep the welder and its associated electronic solid state control board at the optimum constant ambient temperature, pressure, and humidity between uses, be sure to store it on the wife's side of the bedroom.

Yep, it's easier on the diaphragm. But, I never bleed mine off. It is always at 0 when I get back the next day, though. I figure, even if it causes the pressure to be incorrect by a certain amount, the flowguage will still be as accurate as it was before. The number there is only really good as a reference anyway, IMHO.

Dave

[Pangea]

I have the welder sitting in a basic wood shed. Is the cold gonna have any negative effects on it?

thanks.

Don't touch your tongue to it.

[smyrna5]

I gotta say this reminds of when my wife and I were raising our 3 boys. When the first one was little, if his pacifier fell on the floor we boiled it before giving it back. For the second one, we brushed it off on our pants leg. The last kid, well, you get the idea. At the same time if the original poster ever wants to sell a used welder buy it from him :D

[Brianstick]

Minimum temp for my speedglas is 23 degrees F. (1998 model)

[Lodogg2221]

I use my Miller Elite when its pretty cold, I think around 30 or so, and it still works...
For storage, I have an unheated garage, though Im out there once in a while, and run an infrared heater and a kerosene heater when I am, it gets really cold...almost as cold as the outside temp. I just turn off the cylinder, and cover it with the Hobart cover...and wind the whip and ground up on the hangers...I didnt have any trouble with my HH140 and dont expect any out of my new HH187...