Rent Free Acetylene?

[knighty]

I didn't think there were any rent free acetylene bottles?

I looked before but maybe I missed them


right now I'm useing oxy-propane, and I'm not bad with it.... but brazing 2 inch thick wall copper pipes together is a slow process, the heat is whicked away from where you're working so fast

 

[tom2207]

I didn't think there were any rent free acetylene bottles?

I looked before but maybe I missed them


right now I'm useing oxy-propane, and I'm not bad with it.... but brazing 2 inch thick wall copper pipes together is a slow process, the heat is whicked away from where you're working so fast

not being funny , [ i dont like propane at all ] but try pulling the torch back some , an extra inch , the heat in a propane flame is in a different place than an acet flame ,,, give it a go ,,

 

[knighty]

not being funny , [ i dont like propane at all ] but try pulling the torch back some , an extra inch , the heat in a propane flame is in a different place than an acet flame ,,, give it a go ,,

I do that, it's just the size/thickness of the pipe pulling the heat away, working in a hard to reach position and needs to be good to 500psi gas pressure makes it a bit of a chore

 

[tom2207]

I do that, it's just the size/thickness of the pipe pulling the heat away, working in a hard to reach position and needs to be good to 500psi gas pressure makes it a bit of a chore

no prob ,, as long as you know ,, its a bit odd and I have to remind myself when Im using propane ,,,

 

[Tigman]

I've got Albee gases , changed bottles 3 weeks ago no issues

 

[Porkypine]

The Air-Products or Air-Liqude sub-brand with integrated regulators?

They're still available from Engweld.

TBH I had forgotten they existed... The sizes look a bit small for my draw-off rate but I might have to run the sums as it looks like the only rent free option at the moment.

I've had the Albee ones a long time and they're fine for the odd bits I do, they're a bit small but at least you can bung them in a motor easy enough!
One thing I did was make a couple of blanked off fittings to screw on to the outlets of the built in regs, I wasted a whole bottle once as the "on off" lever got pushed by mistake and was empty when I came to use it

 

[Porkypine]

I've got Albee gases , changed bottles 3 weeks ago no issues

Good to know.. Cheers

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

I didn't think there were any rent free acetylene bottles?

I looked before but maybe I missed them


right now I'm useing oxy-propane, and I'm not bad with it.... but brazing 2 inch thick wall copper pipes together is a slow process, the heat is whicked away from where you're working so fast

Looks like the last supplier of full size rent free bottles has gone, (although they only did Sheffield/Barnsley and Oldham/Preston when they were doing them).

Sounds like Albee are still doing rent free bottles at a "one up from portapack" size, but not clear if that would have too low a draw off rate for your application, in your shoes I'd probably be using pre-placed brazing powder mixed with flux and bloody huge rosebud.

 

[Tigman]

I paid £300 for my Albee bottles , then United Welding in Hitchin refill for me , just phone and they swap them over , cost £148.74 Inc vat

 

[zeppelin builder]

Hopefully Albee are still available? I've got oxy and acy bottles of theirs, I'd be properly plssed off if I found they were nla when I need an exchange refill..

my oxy acetylene set up is albee
think acetylene is no longer made in
grrrrreat britain , there is no substitute for acetylene
i think it gets such bad press that its scared most users away

 

[brightspark]

my oxy acetylene set up is albee
think acetylene is no longer made in
grrrrreat britain , there is no substitute for acetylene
i think it gets such bad press that its scared most users away

the only thing to put people off is the cost of refill and rental there is a lot of scaremongers about spouting danger but they have never had or used it must be a facebook thing

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

my oxy acetylene set up is albee
think acetylene is no longer made in
grrrrreat britain , there is no substitute for acetylene
i think it gets such bad press that its scared most users away

BOC produces it at Immingham.

My understanding is that Air Products, Air Liquids and Hobbyweld are all supplied by filling plants in France or Germany.

 

[Porkypine]

I've never come across anyone who's likely to be using acetylene who's scared of it
it's just another inflammable gas, unless you're a total Darwin award you're not going to blow yourself to bits with it, any more than you are with your gas cooker.

 

[zeppelin builder]

I've never come across anyone who's likely to be using acetylene who's scared of it
it's just another inflammable gas, unless you're a total Darwin award you're not going to blow yourself to bits with it, any more than you are with your gas cooker.

there was a spate of garages and diy ers around here burnt to the ground due to antique hoses and ignorance of basic safety measures
it should always be treated with respect

 

[Porkypine]

there was a spate of garages and diy ers around here burnt to the ground due to antique hoses and ignorance of basic safety measures
it should always be treated with respect

Of course any inflammables should be treated with respect, and most importantly Common Sense !

 

[8ob]

Of course any inflammables should be treated with respect, and most importantly Common Sense !

That where the problems start, as a gas supplier how can you ensure that the bottles don't end up in the hands of the incompetent.
In theory there should never be any incidents or accidents with flammable gas.

Bob

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

Of course any inflammables should be treated with respect, and most importantly Common Sense !

It's Oxygen that gives me the most concern, because the way it behaves is outside most people's normal experience.

Of course common sense is to look up the dangers of something you're unfamiliar with in advance of playing with it.

 

[brightspark]

That where the problems start, as a gas supplier how can you ensure that the bottles don't end up in the hands of the incompetent.
In theory there should never be any incidents or accidents with flammable gas.

Bob

but it does . a lot of places use gear that is past its sell by date with rotten hoses i have a mate that has an old crappy torch manky hoses and no flashback arestors on his gear . i gave him a pair and some decent second hand hoses and he is 2 lazy to put them on . i despare with some folk they ask for it and deserve what they get

 

[Jelly_Sheffield]

but it does . a lot of places use gear that is past its sell by date with rotten hoses i have a mate that has an old crappy torch manky hoses and no flashback arestors on his gear . i gave him a pair and some decent second hand hoses and he is 2 lazy to put them on . i despare with some folk they ask for it and deserve what they get

I used to do some work for a Heritage Railway, and after witnessing a particularly close call, cut their hoses up, drove to the local BOC, came back and fitted a new set of hoses and flashback arrestors out of my own pocket.

Nice guys who taught me a lot... But the level of complacency about risks they were all well aware of was alarming.

 

[metalmagpie]

Here in the western US by far the cheapest way to buy acetylene is to find someone selling a full cylinder as a private sale. I should mention that where I live the welding supply stores are all willing to swap a full cylinder for an empty and you pay just for the gas. In some places I have heard they insist you rent or lease the cylinders. I have owned a set of cylinders almost continuously for over 40 years.