Bought empty Argon bottle!

[JOEPRO]

By chance I happened to test fit the new regulator to the gas bottle I bought only a few days ago and it was showing only about 3 bar pressure in the tank!! Basically empty tank. I did notice the valve was not closed tight when I got it home. And it was filled in April last year. So the thing must have lost its charge. (Hobbyweld rent free)

I rang and reported it this morning and I can exchange it when driving past the nearest shop who had em this Friday.

From now on I'll be bringing my bottle gauge and testing it before I drive away with the cylinder! Full charge should be 137 bar ish? It is the small Argon Hobbyweld bottle. I paid the deposit and fill charge.



Never had an issue with my MIG gas like this. It is a C02 bottle that a local auto parts store has a "guy" that refills them. No issues. To be fair never ran into this before has anyone else?

I presume it was just a case of bad luck That the new bottle aparantly leaked out. Either that or my new gauge is faulty!

 

[Morrisman]

I'd test it with soapy water as soon as you get it home, I always do that when I hook a new bottle up, as it's surprising how a tiny leak can lose all your gas in a very short space of time.

I always did it when I was using Calor gas bottles to heat my house, at £82 a pop. At least half the time I hooked one up there would be tiny bubbles, quickly remedied by loosening and wiggling the fitting as it was retightened. I kept a squirt bottle of soapy water handy.

 

[dan.taylor.1]

I've had it once in maybe 100+ bottles from boc. Always check as soon as I'm back at the workshop now, guage fitted and soapy water to check for leaks.

 

[voipio]

Also check the regulator bullnose for dinks, scratches, and dents, as it's not always the cylinder that's at fault.

 

[Porkypine]

When storing the regulator included type of oxygen and acetylene bottles I always screw a blanked off (soldered up) hose fitting to each outlet, so if the cylinder reg leaks it can't go anywhere. I lost a whole brand new full bottle of acetylene once so hit on the idea the above

 

[armalites]

I used to be an Adams Gas stockist and we checked every single bottle before it went out just for peace of mind. I use Hobby Weld from a local supplier these days and they check every one too.

The pressure shown will vary with temperature/guage being used so don't get too hung up on exact numbers as long as it's pretty close.

This is no reflaction on these companies, in my life the cylinders I've had the most issues with have been BOC.

 

[mike os]

I used to be an Adams Gas stockist and we checked every single bottle before it went out just for peace of mind. I use Hobby Weld from a local supplier these days and they check every one too.

The pressure shown will vary with temperature/guage being used so don't get too hung up on exact numbers as long as it's pretty close.

This is no reflaction on these companies, in my life the cylinders I've had the most issues with have been BOC.

Though to be fair the number of bottles Boc has probably levels the field

 

[JOEPRO]

OK so went to shop this morning and another argon bottle and new reg are also showing bottle gauge as empty(?) Wtf.

Then they started to say it needs connected to a welder to show correctly!

But with the gauge on and turned up with thumb over the outlet the static pressure on the cylinder should be showing on bottle gauge?

Not sure what to do here as I don't want to be paying £200 for a bottle and gauge for it to actually be near empty!!

 

[Dcal]

It doesn't need connected to show bottle pressure which is what you are interest in.

Is it turned on correctly?
Some need a quarter turn before they let gas out.

 

[JOEPRO]

It doesn't need connected to show bottle pressure which is what you are interest in.

Is it turned on correctly?
Some need a quarter turn before they let gas out.

Thanks for that, yes the smaller guage for the outlet goes up to a few PSI and it is flowing gas. But the bottle gauge initially only indicated 2 or 3 bar. And now shows zero.

Another bottle and another new gauge of same Jefferson brand within their shop shows the same results! Which is a little puzzling.

 

[JOEPRO]

Shop said they have tried several gauges since as I left it with them. And bottles.

And no difference. They admit they are baffled by this and had gas customers in who said I am correct that it should indicate bottle pressure.

I'll have to collect it and email this to Hobbyweld and see what they say. And also order an alternative brand argon gauge as that could be the culprit maybe.

 

[colnerov]

Hi. I've had it a few times at BOC (Argoshield) and even one time leaking from the valve when key turned on. I always take a twin gauge regulator with flowmiser turned down to check, I always ask if they mind if I put the gauge they never refuse and change it without any argument if it's down on pressure.

Colin

 

[Bobupndown]

Something to bear in mind, I'll be checking next time I need a refill

 

[JOEPRO]

Update - I left the bottle and reg back for a full refund on the advice of Hobbyweld. See image attached.

(I explained in detail that I tried several cylinders all the same but they missed that part it seems)




This Hobbyweld vendor was also 20 mile return trip from my home.

I rang a few autoparts stores in my town and they actually do bottles of Argon and it's a little cheaper. The refills are alot cheaper at £38 all in VS £80 odd here.

So I'll mail order a brand name regulator, wait for it to arrive and go get this other local bottle and test it in my car before I set off. Should be fine now.

This was just very strange and I still am none the wiser if it was a dud batch of jefferson regs or extremely bad luck on actual empty cylinders. But alas, not my problem now.

 

[brightspark]

i just spit in the neck before leaving the premises if it bubbles i ask for another

 

[BarrieJ]

I've had it with a BOC Oxygen, once cracked, I couldn't fully close the valve; BOC were absolutely fine, the guy who collected/changed it gave me the impression my experience was far from unique. He said some of these bottles are pre war, which I somehow doubted but judging by the rust around the base, maybe he was right?

 

[Richiew]

There are some very old bottles out there. Especially in the U.S. Check out the test dates and interesting marking on these bottles.

Nazi Paraphernalia in Lab – Chemistry Blog

 

[JOEPRO]

Update, I went to the local autoparts shop today and paid the deposit on a cylinder of pure Argon.

The cylinder felt VERY heavy unlike the Hobbyweld ones. Therefore I do believe the various new hobbyweld cylinders detailed above were actually empty!! Probably sitting waiting on the next customer as the shop said they didn't know what was wrong.....

The bottle I have now is also charged to 10L at 200bar on the gauge. VS 137 hobbyweld 9l.spec - more gas. Refills also cheaper at £35 Inc vat.

 

[Turbo]

Do you know that you do not use pure argon for mig welding? It's commonly used for tig welding stainless steel, for mig you need argon mix or co2.

 

[Chippie]

Shop said they have tried several gauges since as I left it with them. And bottles.

And no difference. They admit they are baffled by this and had gas customers in who said I am correct that it should indicate bottle pressure.

I'll have to collect it and email this to Hobbyweld and see what they say. And also order an alternative brand argon gauge as that could be the culprit maybe.

My first bottle of Argon appears to have gone the same way as yours….
I bought a new reg from Staticarc on eBay, went for a bottle got it home to find it only had around 30-50 Bar or so in it…I didn’t realise at first as I was too interested in starting to learn to Tig weld, but am aware now so my next bottle, I’ll be checking and taking my reg with me…..lesson learnt.