Blown my welder up.

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Munkul; volkzone discount has been mentioned a number of times can you please expand on how to obtain this because I'm still a novice with lots to learn?

Thanks Hood for the comparison between SGS and BOC; I tried SGS to the point of getting one of their 30L cylinders into the workshop but returned it unused for a full refund; I won't pay VAT on a returnable deposit when such a deposit doesn't attract VAT; I'm not short of funds but I'm not a money lender.

I'll eventually get settled with a gas supplier.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

an you please expand on how to obtain this because I'm still a novice with lots to learn?

Phone their H.O. and ask for it.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Slim. I think I'm sorted; having sent in the email Thomas at BOC kindly phoned me about an hour ago; I then received an online account application form to complete which I immediately did; I then received confirmation that all signatures were correct so I'm unsure as to what to do next; everywhere will be closed now but tomorrow is another day; yes I was put on the hobby account;; £113.16 per year and £56.76 fills. Thomas phoned The Wakefield Welding Center whilst I held on and yes as soon as the account is active there's a 20L cylinder awaiting my collection; fingers crossed tomorrow I'll have gas. Whoopee.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

I must share this momentous occasion with you all; I've got BOC gas. WOW.

I've just returned from The Wakefield Welding Center with a 20L (Y) cylinder of pure argon. Both BOC and TWWC have been absolutely tops. Big smile on my face at last. Next job is to modify my welding trolley; no way do I want to be lifting this cylinder more than I have to. I received my BOC new account number by email and all I needed to do was to present this number at the counter in TWWC; it being a brand new account it took a short while to sort the computer out and produce paperwork but now I'm on the system next time I simply deliver an empty cylinder and collect a full cylinder; TWWC scans the cylinder barcode so I don't even need to present my account number again; payment will be deducted directly from our account; once it's set up its so easy and without hassle. Well done BOC and TWWC I'm delighted and it's good news for a change.

Kind regards, Colin

 

[Retired]

Hi,

I'm back to no gas and no gas cylinder; long story so catch up a bit later. Every time I go near the workshop I'm besotted with nothing but problems and trouble.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Munkul]

don't tell me, you lost all that 20L through some form of leak? Ok, now I'm starting to believe your bad luck!

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for asking Munkul. I couldn't make up this thread if I tried because my bad luck just continues. No not a gas leak but something highly unusual. I finally got into the workshop yesterday keen to practice welding; I coupled up the new full 20L BOC cylinder; switched on the welder and turned on the gas at the cylinder; I thought the cylinder was 230 bar and it was reading 200 bar but no problem at all until I saw the low pressure gauge needle slowly creeping around the dial into the red? By the time I had fumbled with the cylinder key to turn the cylinder off the needle had gone way past red and was arrested by the stop pin? This was worrying indeed; I quickly let the pressure out using the torch button then tried again and the same thing happened; the regulator was definitely in the closed position. This to me could prove highly dangerous; if the cylinder was left open and had I not noticed the gauge reading would the low pressure side of the regulator be subjected to the full 200 bar?

Total frustration followed all yesterday afternoon involving two journey's over to The Wakefield Welding Center. Jim at TWWC was brilliant as usual; I asked Jim if he would kindly test the regulator I had brought along; Jim obliged by bringing a small argon cylinder to the front of the counter and tested the regulator in front of me; staff and a customer; I've been embarrassed before but I was standing there with a bright red face as the regulator appeared to be working perfectly; as I bent down though the pressure in this cylinder was only 100 bar; I had been using this regulator at home on Hobbyweld 137 bar cylinders without problem. I tried my best to explain but everyone having seen the test including TWWC top technician kept repeating the regulator was fine and the technician added that these regulators are tested to work at 400 bar.

I persisted though and as a full high pressure cylinder wasn't available it was suggested I return home to collect my cylinder which I did; back at TWWC the cylinder was wheeled into the workshop and as I waited at the counter the technician came through and gave Jim a call saying if you've a minute Jim come and look at this. I was invited back stage and sure enough now the regulator behaved just as I had described the gauge going into the red; I watched and was ready to step in to turn the cylinder off because any gauge into the red must be regarded as highly dangerous but fortunately having now seen the problem the technician turned the cylinder off.

The conclusion of the technician is that it's a faulty BOC cylinder and it would be returned to BOC for a replacement; I was treated very well indeed as I always am at TWWC; I was kindly offered a slightly smaller cylinder which they had in stock which I politely declined saying I've now come this far I'll see it through; I left the cylinder and regulators; having thanked everyone for their kind help and patience I returned home by which time it was now getting dark.

My own thought is that if it was the cylinder at fault why when the regulator is in the off position is pressure being allowed out to the low pressure side; nothing should be coming out of the low pressure?

From home I then emailed Jim asking Jim to please couple up one of their own known to be fully working regulators to double check the cylinder before having the cylinder collected? Something is definitely wrong but then I'm involved so what can I expect with my bad luck; I'm not one for jumping up and down screaming but this TIG welding is testing my patience.

It comes down to the cylinder or the regulator; I'll update once I have more information.

Kind regards, Colin.

A quick update,

Once again Parweld are brilliant; they are to collect my regulator from Jim at TWWC and replace it free of charge; how good is this? Once the original regulator is tested I'm to receive a test report which I'll look forward to. Very well done Parweld; top class service.

 

[Munkul]

that's incredibly bad luck.

It must be the weather,

We've been having problems with our lab spec regulators at work on the gas analyser testers - last few days they have been "sticking" apparently and showing up to 200psi when they should be regulating down to 15psi. I've been tasked with speccing some brand new labmaster 2 stage regs - not sure why the original ones weren't 2 stage to begin with. That's £1300 right there.

And yesterday, someone had an E-stop in on a lacquer mixer, which left the nitrogen purge on high flow all day, draining the large BOC liquid nitrogen tank - around 3pm yesterday all the N2 blanketed tanks alarmed with zero N2 flow. Great. We had a bank of cylinders hooked up to a welding regulator to get them through the night, lol

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Apologies Munkul for my bad luck rubbing off on you.

I'm pleased I'm not paying for the problems you've just experienced though. For a home workshop this TIG welding can become quite expensive; not just in kit and consumables but I'm also racking up mileage running around which isn't a major problem but the time taken is; yesterday afternoon was a nightmare with two visits to Wakefield on the final journey home I ran into a lot of traffic in Horbury Bridge; I'd had enough of everything and was glad to return to the comfort of home.

I was awake during last night with the regulator problem on my mind and it was troubling me so I wanted to resolve it as quickly as possible but once it was sorted and it being so cold outside I didn't feel like wandering into the workshop; all these TIG problems are very tiring indeed and highly frustrating; it's now going on for four months since buying the welder and most of the time all I've done is moan and complain about the many problems I've encountered. I've spent a great deal more time in our Yeti driving around than actually welding; yesterday alone being an half day.

I'm still unable to use the TIG welder but tomorrow morning I hope to collect lots of aluminium offcuts then I can spend time in the workshop modifying my new welding trolley at least I can trust my Pickhill Bantam arc welder not to let me down.

Once the new regulator and cylinder are home with me I can quit moaning and actually have a serious attempt at TIG welding; I hope so.

Given the problems thus far I could have easily scrapped the welder but I've received lots of most welcome help; from you forum members and also TWWC and Parweld; this thread has now run to 288 posts so a lot of time has been spent both by myself and members on the forum; I won't quit because I'd let myself down and everything would have been a waste of time; bring on the problems I'm still here and hope to be for some long time to come. Thanks guys and thanks too to TWWC & Parweld.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

It's bizarre what's happening; I've now received a credit note value £52.43 from BOC; will I ever actually settle at my welder and weld without all these absolutely stupid ongoing problems?

I'm setting off shortly to collect a car load of aluminium offcuts but I think I might end up riveting because I've got little chance of welding them; four months in and still unable to use the welder due to constant problems.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Munkul]

come on fella. It's not that complicated. 1 welder (sorted) 1 regulator (buy a new one) 1 bottle (go back to get a BOC one)

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Munkul. Car load of aluminium now collected; welder working brilliantly when coupled up to gas; regulator fault now confirmed; I'll be collecting the cylinder when I receive confirmation the new regulator is ready; what else can now go wrong? I'm running out of time at 72 years of age.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[Munkul]

Regulators used to be high quality items. Now with industrial regulations and guidelines, they're only supposed to be used for 5 years then replaced. Therefore they're being built more cheaply now, since they "only need to last 5 years" therefore failure rates go up... catch 22...
It's not something I personally care about on inert welding gasses, I replace when it leaks or fails (using pretty old regs now!), but at work we chuck em religiously after 5 years.

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks Munkul. Obviously safety must come first. I've always trusted BOC equipment and still do. My regulator is just over a year old; it was bought with the welder both the welder and regulator a year old but never having been used so both have had extremely little use indeed.

I fully agree with what you say regarding current standards being low and getting lower; I worked for a very large company manufacturing electric motors and during my 24 years with the company saw the motors slowly be trimmed to bare essentials; if the aluminium yoke cooling fins keep being reduced in thickness to cut down on aluminium use they'll make good razor blades.

Shortly before retiring I was subjected to a week of intensive Kaizen training; this training to remove as much out of motors as possible labour and material the theory being why supply a Rolls Royce when a mini will do; who's to blame for this; the manufacturer or the customer? I had five days of this in-house at work;

https://www.theknowledgeacademy.com...d6n97FuK_N1V1R4E_2brgVZEnJpST2VQaAuuLEALw_wcB

Don't repair because we are now encouraged to throw away and as the years pass I notice guys are becoming useless at simple repairs in fact many of their wives/partners are now taking over DIY activities; I'm a dinosaur and will always repair if possible and I enjoy doing it.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[minimutly]

Whos to blame for this? Simple, the accountants...

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks minimutly; I'm unsure who is to blame for the decline in quality; the customer constantly wanting something for nothing or the manufacturer trying to gain the customer business?

I'm still without gas or regulator but I hope to be welding again before this Christmas with luck. Considering my bad luck thus far once I do collect the cylinder and regulator I won't be using the new Parweld regulator even though it's brand new and being generously supplied free of charge to replace the faulty Parweld regulator. It's one thing having the welder explode the way it did but the explosion was contained safely inside the steel cabinet; had the regulator exploded though the story would be totally different it being fully exposed; Parweld have been brilliant in repairing the welder and supplying the new regulator and I give full credit to them for such excellent service and back up.

I work very closely to the welder my back to it; it's highly likely the new regulator will be safe for years to come but not with me using it because I'll never trust it and won't put my life at risk; I've now added a new BOC regulator onto my BOC account and it's due to arrive shortly; for the sake of about £66 I'll have peace of mind; I've been very happy during the little use I've put the repaired welder to and so far it's not missed a beat; I won't give the regulator a second chance though; the welder yes the regulator no. As I type I don't know why the regulator behaved as it did but it clearly wasn't regulating and to watch the low pressure gauge go past the red danger zone fully out of my control other than to turn off the cylinder valve was frightening and I can only guess as to the outcome had I not closed the cylinder valve? I'm sorry Parweld you've been absolutely brilliant with me; I'll still enjoy using the welder.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[minimutly]

I would only reccomend a two stage - repeatability is everything. I tried a couple of generic single stage ones and they were all over the place, pulled an old boc 2 stage off my mig - spot on every time.

 

[dannyp]

regulator dates anoy me sothing special ive had 5 - 6 regulators fail at work a couple of them quite inpressivly yet ive got a few ancient BOC 2 stage regs that are fine the one on my tig is proably 60 yrs old going of when dad said he bought it

 

[Retired]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies minimutly and dannyp.

I ordered online on Sunday the BOC (RYVAL) regulator and it arrived safely yesterday it being double boxed. Excellent service.

It's now around 14 weeks ago I took delivery of the welder and here I still am dreaming of TIG welding; during this time I've done more running around in the car than actually welding; I'm still without gas and the free replacement regulator although I'm getting nearer now having the new BOC regulator to hand. I don't wish to be ungrateful in having the faulty regulator replaced free of charge but I'll be using the BOC regulator; if ever I sell the welder the free replacement but unused regulator will go with it.

This has been mostly one long drawn out dismal tale of woe with just enough bits of happiness to prevent me packing the lot in. 14 weeks out of my life so far for little gain other than problem after problem; this TIG welding is without doubt the worst hobby I've attempted for hassle and frustration; if only it would all come together but each time I think I've cracked it another problem stops me; it's turned from hobby to bizarre in what has happened and the harder I try I can't get a grip on it.

Both Parweld and The Wakefield Welding Center have gone light years out of their way in order to help me and I truly appreciate their help; both must have incurred lots of expenses on my behalf and not charged me a penny but my bad luck still persists. I know though I will definitely be welding before Christmas but I'm not predicting which Christmas.

It's not all doom and gloom because during my brief sessions of practice welds I've made decent progress and have learnt a great deal; you guys too on the forum have been a huge help to me with your help and patience; all I now need is better luck and argon gas then fingers crossed no more problems.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

this TIG welding is without doubt the worst hobby I've attempted for hassle and frustration

Have you tried knitting fog? Exit > stage right.........