mig questions, sample pics added Options

[jimkelly]

my original argon valve was bent up and leaked, so I ordered a new one. it had again, different sized threads, jeez.

so I went to ace ( r towel advice) and went with barbed fitting at both ends since the new argon valve came with a 1/4 barb already.

question - when you are done welding and want to purge the lines of argon, after shutting the valve on the tank, do you have to waste wire or is there a way to purge without wasting wire?

also, I expected the bead to stay at 15 psi when i turned the brass valve open, but it only rises to 15 psi or what ever I set it at, when I pull the red trigger on the mig - is this normal?

also - I prepped some of my old real estate signs for practice : )

jim