Best place for gas?

Susquatch

Ultra Member
Moderator
Premium Member
Usually when the draw rate is going to be a problem, switching over to propane or Natural gas is the answer...unless you have a very small tank it's not normally a concern

When you work on farm equipment, a standard tool is a GIANT rosebud. :eek: They draw a LOT of acetylene!

I have a big tank and I sometimes wish it was bigger!
 

phaxtris

(Ryan)
Premium Member
Premium Member
When you work on farm equipment, a standard tool is a GIANT rosebud. :eek: They draw a LOT of acetylene!

I have a big tank and I sometimes wish it was bigger!

Yea the big rosebuds can draw a lot, no doubt there! When you get real big propane is the way to go, More btu's, and the tips seem to not overheat as easily, at least In my experience

biggest setup I've used was 2-3" in diameter (it was quite a while ago now, I can't remember exactly) and we needed a liquid oxygen tank to feed it, propane of course, it was to straighten a "mag beam" that had been dropped as a result of a crane cable snapping...it looked like 40ft of spaghetti ...2 of us + consultant and 18 hours later it was straight (the two of us heated and the consultant directed)

Same place we had to bevel 3" plate with a radio graph, because of the bevel it was something like 8" or 10" of thickness, only tip we could find to do it was propane, and again a liquid oxygen tank
 

Susquatch

Ultra Member
Moderator
Premium Member
Yea the big rosebuds can draw a lot, no doubt there! When you get real big propane is the way to go, More btu's, and the tips seem to not overheat as easily, at least In my experience

biggest setup I've used was 2-3" in diameter (it was quite a while ago now, I can't remember exactly) and we needed a liquid oxygen tank to feed it, propane of course, it was to straighten a "mag beam" that had been dropped as a result of a crane cable snapping...it looked like 40ft of spaghetti ...2 of us + consultant and 18 hours later it was straight (the two of us heated and the consultant directed)

Same place we had to bevel 3" plate with a radio graph, because of the bevel it was something like 8" or 10" of thickness, only tip we could find to do it was propane, and again a liquid oxygen tank

I got nuthin after that story of yours! You win!
 

phaxtris

(Ryan)
Premium Member
Premium Member
I got nuthin after that story of yours! You win!

Ha not trying to compete! Just did lots of wierd stuff at that place, a lot of it was due to doing a good chunk of the special projects/shutdown work for the local steel mill (MRM in Selkirk, MB)

Some of it was interesting and noteworthy, some of it was all of that + terrible at the same time kinda work.....like having to work 18 hrs straight straightening mag beam because it was needed tomorrow or the plant had to shut down...

Definitely cool to have the story's, and experience, but I don't miss the shutdown days, although I still get roped into the odd one here and there (obviously in Alberta though)
 

Degen

Ultra Member
Well if you are looking for cheap 80cu/ft argon (argon mix) cylinders


Our local welding shops (both private and brand name) sell them. I bought the next size up (not from them) paid a lot more but fill cost (exchange) is almost identical. I went through the first tank ultra quick learning, second tank is considerably slower given that I am welding more and have better settings and control.
 

kevin.decelles

Jack of all trades -- Master of none
Premium Member
I get to drive to town today and exchange my mig tank for a new one. Welding feet on a new wind break yesterday, hmm run out just as things get tacked in place. I bought my tank several years ago, Air Liquide will only sell the smallest tank but i don't weld enough anymore to justify paying a yearly lease and have large tank.
Where did you exchange @6.5 Fan ?
 

kevin.decelles

Jack of all trades -- Master of none
Premium Member
I own 3 80cu ft cylinders , (oxy, argon, mix). Bought all from oxypro in Calgary. All new bottles

Now I’ve moved to SK, seems to be little/no refill out here. Bumper-to-bumper uses Acklands on a lease model, peavy is allegedly praxair. I’ll likely re-buy from peavey unless I can find a reasonable refill location

At that time my other bottles may be for sale.
 

Darren

Ultra Member
Premium Member
I began leasing oxy/acetylene tanks from Praxair in 1988 when I was barely a teenager. Couldn't afford a mig, so everything was gas welded or brazed, or cut with a torch. When i got my mig in 92, I leased another bottle for 80/20. All my bottles were around the 120 cu/ft size. Around 2002, the manager of our local Praxair called me and said my lease was going up, and maybe i should buy out my leases. It was around 450 a year for the lease by that point, and about $1200 to buy all my tanks. Done deal. I paid, and everything was fine for almost 20 years. Exchanged my tanks fairly regularly and never had an issue. One day i go in, and no familiar faces. My account also could not be found. They exchanged my mig bottle and oxy, no problem but said it would be the last time. Next time i go in, they tell me sorry, you can't own a 120 cu/ft tank, those are leases. Somewhere along the line they changed the rules, but it is still not resolved. The manager wouldn't even talk to me.

Thankfully my bud owns a big welding company, with a big account there, and now everything works. They won't even exchange my 120 ft bottles for 80's.
 

Mcgyver

Ultra Member
If you check the annual reports, this industry has pharmaceutical like margins. Perhaps not enough competition? The trend has been the big guys buying everything so there a few players.

If you are using it in volume pay attention to the details. The contracts often have perpetual renewals unless you cancel more than year in advance. Who's thinking about it a year in advance? Best thing to do is cancel the day after you sign it.....under the contract language its still valid for its original length, say five years, but doing so negates the perpetual renewals.

I switched suppliers recently and found a significant savings and no contract, so while there are few options, I guess there is a little bit of competition.
 
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