How nexAir’s Expertise in Gas Blending Enhances Precision in Metal Fabrication

The hiss of gas, the blue glow of the arc, the steady hand of an experienced welder—metal fabrication is both art and science. But behind that perfect bead lies an invisible factor many shops overlook: the precise composition of shielding gas flowing through the torch. At nexAir, we’ve discovered something fascinating—when we dial in the exact gas mixture for a specific application, fabricators achieve results they once thought impossible. The right blend doesn’t just protect your weld from atmospheric contamination; it fundamentally transforms how metal flows, fuses, and solidifies.

The Science Behind Custom Gas Blends

When you’re TIG welding aluminum, pure argon might suffice. But what about that critical stainless steel joint on a food processing vessel? Or the chromoly tubing for a high-performance vehicle?

The composition of your shield gas directly affects:

• Arc stability
• Penetration profile
• Weld pool fluidity
• Bead appearance
• Spatter reduction

Standard pre-mixed cylinders might work for general applications, but they represent compromise. Your specific alloy, thickness, and quality requirements deserve better.

Our metallurgists have studied these interactions extensively. We’ve discovered that even minor adjustments to gas ratios can dramatically impact results. A 2% increase in helium might provide the extra heat transfer needed for that challenging thick-section weld. A touch more CO₂ could improve fusion on your vertical MIG welds.

The Value of Customization

Custom gas blends can address specific welding challenges that standard mixtures cannot. In metal fabrication, where tolerances are tight and quality expectations are high, the right gas composition makes a significant difference.

The gas blending process typically involves:

1. Analysis of the metals being joined
2. Consideration of joint design and welding position
3. Evaluation of welding parameters and equipment specifications
4. Assessment of quality requirements for the finished product

Custom blending allows for precise calibration to specific applications. Consistency between batches ensures repeatable results—a critical factor in production environments where variation leads to quality issues.

Our KnowHow™ encompasses more than just mixing gases. We focus on understanding how these mixtures interact with various power sources, torch designs, and filler metals. This comprehensive approach delivers solutions tailored to specific fabrication challenges.

Beyond Standard Mixtures

While many shops rely on standard argon/CO₂ mixtures for MIG welding, research has identified numerous specialized applications where modified ratios deliver superior results:

For thin stainless steel, trimix blends with helium can provide exceptional puddle control without burn-through. When working with exotic alloys like Inconel, specialized mixtures help prevent the formation of harmful oxides while maintaining arc stability.

Automated welding systems benefit particularly from precision blends. When robots repeat the same weld thousands of times, even subtle improvements in gas performance multiply into significant quality and productivity gains.

Experience the Precision Difference

Your metal fabrication challenges deserve specialized solutions. Generic approaches yield generic results. Excellence requires expertise.

Would you like to see how custom gas blending could improve your fabrication process? Our technical specialists welcome the opportunity to analyze your current operations and identify potential improvements.

We’ll bring our portable analytical equipment right to your shop floor. With real-time testing on your actual production parts, we can demonstrate the difference the right gas blend makes—not in theory, but in your hands, with your equipment, on your projects.

Transform Your Welding Results Today

Every weld represents your craftsmanship and reputation. You’ve invested in skilled welders, quality power sources, and premium filler metals. Doesn’t your shielding gas deserve the same level of attention?

Contact us to learn more about how our precision gas blending capabilities could help improve your fabrication quality and efficiency.