Nitrogen with GTAW?

[ScottDFW]

Hello all,

I have another one for you. I searched and didnt come up with anything reasonable.

I own a 40cf tank that I currently use for Argon when TIG welding. Whether I got another tank or whatever isnt really the question, but...what if I used Nitrogen or another 'intert' gas for welding instead of the Argon? I know, obviously, Helium is an option...but anything else?

Lets hear it!

-scott

[GTA/Spec]

Sorry cant do that. Nitrogen is not inert. It is stable, but not inert. Only the Noble gases on the right side of the periodic table can be used for sheilding your tungsten. Also, hydrogen can be used in lower percentages with argon. The only cost effective inerts are argon and helium. Neon can be $5K per cylinder and krypton can be $40k. Stick with Argon.

[ScottDFW]

Yeah..... All of a sudden argon is a very viable option.