Mig welding gas cylinder-how to buy?

[kartman24]

I have had a large gas cylinder on my mig welder for the last 18 years and it is now about to run out. I used to be in the car business and had an `account` with BOC which required a sum to be paid each year for the privilage of purchasing the cylinders from them. I haven`t had an account for years now and bearing in mind the usage levels i now have am reluctant to open a paid account PLUS then have to pay for the cylinder/top up. Does anyone know how i can just go out and buy a cylinder or get this one refilled?........Martin

[elster]

Go to nearest centre that will replace yours with a full one.

Pay the money.

Go home.

[kartman24]

Can you just walk in off the street with a cylinder and get a replacement? When we were running a business you had to have a paid yearly contract AND also pay for each new cylinder/refill.......Martin

[aussiebruce]

yes you do have to hire the cylinders. i've just had a £250 bill for two cylinders.

I'd be inclined to just go and open a new account, get a new cylinder and not mention the one you have.

you can always just leave the old one at the gate when they're closed.

[mrmr96]

Phone BOC and explain. Surely they will be able to point you in the direction of a reseller/agent?

[elster]

kartman24 said:

Can you just walk in off the street with a cylinder and get a replacement? When we were running a business you had to have a paid yearly contract AND also pay for each new cylinder/refill.......Martin

No need to pay a yearly contract. Have to give address, that's all.

[kartman24]

Elster, i have now spoken to BOC who have confirmed you DO have to pay a yearly rental on the cylinders(£81.71) in my case PLUS pay for the gas (40.08). That`s a heck of a lot of money per year. This last cylinder has lasted me 15 years or so so i`m obviously not using it that much, if i had been renting it i would have paid £1225 hire charge for the privilage
I was just looking for suggestions of a way round the rental thing but i guess there isn`t one.........Martin

[mgrays]

Depends where you are based... seems North of central England might be OK for retest and refill of bottles but go read about on this link;

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?...

Meantime yes paying BOC for rent and decent gas after giving up on CO2 (pub gas) as it really does not do a decent/nice weld (too much heat, too much splatter, not enough penetration/wetting of the weld pool)

[AndrewW-G]

elster said:

kartman24 said:

Can you just walk in off the street with a cylinder and get a replacement? When we were running a business you had to have a paid yearly contract AND also pay for each new cylinder/refill.......Martin

No need to pay a yearly contract. Have to give address, that's all.

Could you please confirm who that is with.........really dont like paying rental on cylinders and would move supplier if I didnt have to

[Mr Recovery]

I had the same problem recently, however as it is only CO2 that I use I managed to persuade my local publican to sell me a bottle of the gas they use in the pub, on the understanding that I will return the cylinder afterwards. Total cost to me £20 and it will last me a couple of years.

[GreenV8S]

kartman24 said:

if i had been renting it i would have paid £1225 hire charge for the privilage

If you're using really tiny amounts then it would surely work out cheaper to buy disposable cannisters.

[honestbob]

This goes against my nature but I would find a steel fabricator/sheetmetal business in your area(best if they employ a few men but not too big a company)and explain to the owner your predicament.
He may play ball if you offer him enough.

[Nobby Diesel]

Use gasless wire.
As the wire burns, the coating on the outside of the wire gives off a gas that becomes the shield for the weld.
If you are only doing a little bit of DIY work, this is probably the best way to go.
Failing that, you should be able to get sorted out by the friendly publican, as suggested, or pay a visit to your local body shop supplies company.

[eliot]

I'm paying about £85 per year with Air Products for my Argon bottle - stings having to pay the rent on it, but not much you can do about it unless you can find a hooky bottle.
So when your "Mate" welds something up for you, try to drop them a drink for their time and money involved in doing you that favour. My TIG welder pulls around 50Amps from the mains when doing 180amps welding current - which is a fair chunk of power.

[Jee6660]

Hi just read your topic on gas and i found if you look round your area there should be a place that sell argon in 10lt bottles for about 120 quid, once you pay this you can keep the bottle as long as you like and a fill with them is only about 45 quid when you take your bottle back,
Just thought i would put it up there,
My local car parts shop do it

[SEE YA]

Look around for a pub bottle, get it tested around 90 pounds last time I did mine.

That will last for ten years otherwise no one will refill it for you.

[turbonutter]

This place does 10 or 20L bottles & you pay a one time deposit on the bottle - no yearly rental. Not the cheapest gas, but pretty good for low use customers. I have a couple of their cylinders. Argon & CO2..

http://www.weldinggases.co.uk/

[hidetheelephants]

turbonutter said:

This place does 10 or 20L bottles & you pay a one time deposit on the bottle - no yearly rental. Not the cheapest gas, but pretty good for low use customers. I have a couple of their cylinders. Argon & CO2..

http://www.weldinggases.co.uk/

There are several places that do rent-free gas like this; some of them have adverts on ebay. As said, it's not cheap but if you don't do a lot of welding, or weld sporadically then it's much cheaper than BOC/AP or disposables.

[finishing touch]

A pub bottle of CO2 is the best way for you to go, as you use so little.


You need a friendly landlord so;

go down your local tonight and get absolutely blotto, repeat tomorrow and again the night after.
In fact keep up this procedure until he starts getting chatty and asking questions. At this point you can bring up the subject
of the gas bottle and enquire about the price.
If he says about the ten to twelve pounds mark then he's letting you have it at cost. Top bloke.
If eighteen to twenty then he has added on the VAT which he claims back, but still, we all have to make a living.
If however it's well into the twenties then he's having a laugh and just wants to rip people off, so you just stand upright,
try not to sway, and tell him, "Stuck yer bliddy bittle ip yer ass!" Hic! and just walk out.

( I pay the £20 by the way )

Cheers
Paul G

P.S.
I know this is an old thread but it must be about time for a refill

Edited by finishing touch on Saturday 7th February 08:33

[Tanguero]

Pub gas will tend to give you horrible welds. I use these Adam Gas for decent CO2/Argon mix with a one time deposit on the cylinder. http://www.adamsgas.co.uk/welding/hobby-gas-weldin...