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Hi Butch, Your supplier is correct. Were measuring flow of a gas at volume rate per hour. 30cfh of Argon is the same "gas" flow rate as 30cfh of Co2. If both cylinders, Ar & Co2, were 220cf in size, then they would both empty at a different rate over time. As Rod pointed out Co2 is stored as a liquid thus would contain more gas volume as the liquid boils off in the same size cylinder comparred to Ar. Unless the suppliers have changed there ways, Co2 is bought equal too a 220cf cylinder of "gas". That is why the Co2 cylinder is smaller as when the liquid Co2 boils off you would have 220cf of gas or the same as a 220cf cylinder of Ar. Thus a 220cf cylinder of Ar would contain the same gas volume of a cylinder of Co2. As to gas coverage needed while Mig welding, you would need to be in a draft free enviroment to take advantage of the shielding properties of Ar shielding vs Co2 shielding. A weld with Ar shielding will take less gas than a weld with Co2 but only in a production machine weldment. This would because you can control a constant cup clearance to the base metal surface. Under this condition then less cfh of shielding gas can be used and depending on the base metal/electrode, use less Ar shielding gas. Cost effective to use Ar? No, Co2 (if it can be used) is more cost effective as it costs less per/cf. The last time I bought 40cf of Oxygen, it cost me the same to buy a 220cf Oxygen cylinder. I paid the higher price so I could easy carry the Oxy/Acet cylinders too the roof. I paid $66 for a 220cf Ar cylinder last year. Mixed gas always runs about 30% higher. Mix your own gas and save 30%! Wanna save another 34%, learn to control your arc length in a draft free enviroment and use 20cfh shielding gas flow. Cut the flow rate down until you get prososity then add 5cfh. Always buy the largest cylinder (330cf, Type of gas dependant) that you can as it's the cheapest overall cost. I believe Lincoln makes .030 E70s innershield in 10/lb spools ? You might check that, I could be wrong. T_Bone
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Rod