Basic questions about oxy-acetylene

[The Part]

Hi,

Just signed up as a member of this forum and would like to ask some very elementary questions about oxy-acetylene torches - please don't be too harsh on me!

Could someone explain to me what size (expressed as gas volume contents) of acetylene and oxygen cylinders would normally be required for users such as:

- model engineers;
- plumbers;
- refrigeration/HVAC engineers,

who would normally not spend too much time brazing in a working day?

What is on average the cost for renting and refilling the cylinders?

Many thanks in advance,

TP

 

[pedrobedro]

This would be the smallest and uses disposable cylinders not rentals. The next up would be a Portapak size but cylinders are rented separately like this from BOC or similar. I don't endorse the supplier although I have had items from them as they are local to me, they just came up in a search you should be able to find these articles anywhere. Someone published a current price list for BOC gas not long ago so it should be online somewhere but I would estimate about £100 p.a. rental and £50 refill cost.

 

[The Part]

This would be the smallest and uses disposable cylinders not rentals. The next up would be a Portapak size but cylinders are rented separately like this from BOC or similar. I don't endorse the supplier although I have had items from them as they are local to me, they just came up in a search you should be able to find these articles anywhere. Someone published a current price list for BOC gas not long ago so it should be online somewhere but I would estimate about £100 p.a. rental and £50 refill cost.

Thanks for these links and the details. It is not apparently obvious what is the volume of the gas in the cylinders. Does the refill cost of £50 cover both the acet and the oxy cost? And what volumes of each of the two gases does this refer to?

 

[campervan]

depends on size of bottle what do you want them for ? for long term you can rent off boc for a month about 13£ but like threads say are not cheap plus you have paperwork charge of £11.35 plus vat when you refill better off buying an oxygen bottle from a local supplier outright if they can also refill it works out cheaper some suppliers also exchange acetylene bottles providing you have a rented or owned bottle. the place i use just puts about £2 on top of boc price this covers them on paperwork as they take the bottles down for exchange when they have a few empties think you can get some more ifo off thread about charges and boc web site other route is poss hire shop but its more expensive than opening an account with boc i looked into it prior to taking one of my bottles back i was to late bringing it back thats why i know its £13 a month think the would of let me off i had it for ten years cant you get a mig or is it a flame you need?
what about arc welder with brazing attachment good for flame and sunburn

 

[eil]

I use the mapp from the first set Pedro put up with the oxy bottle from the portapack, I do this because the oxy on the little set doesn't last long, and the whole portapack is heavy if you need to clamber up on a roof or such, and its the cheapest option for me. You haven't said what use you need it for.