Gas Cylinder Hire or Buy

I've thought about getting oxygen and acetylene again. I suppose my regulators are still suitable. I have this style of CIG reg: https://www.ebay.com.au/i/283957520089

I switched to BOC on their gas plans for my TIG Argon. E size bottle $199 per year and you get a free refill. The only draw back is you have to return the bottle after 12 months even if it full and start again.

BOC Gas: Fill For Less - Gas deals from $79/year

I didn’t know about those deals - thanks for that info.

Was renting an argon CO2 mix from BOC. Monthly charge kept creeping up and often the bottle wasn't filled from year to year.

Recently inherited 2 Hare & Forbes bottles so effectively free, just need to pay for the refills now.
Also inherited an oxygen bottle I think is from Total Tools,

When I took my BOC bottle back they had a 'deal' for bottles on an annual fee (not sure if this is still going). A 'D' size was about $100 which was supplied full and one free refill during the year.

I also now have access to a 3-phase Kempi welder at work, I often tack at home and then take the job to work to finish. Saves on gas & wire [bigwhistle]


Colin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FisherX

I switched to BOC on their gas plans for my TIG Argon. E size bottle $199 per year and you get a free refill. The only draw back is you have to return the bottle after 12 months even if it full and start again.

BOC Gas: Fill For Less - Gas deals from $79/year

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Incorrect.
There is an included fill for each 12 month period, and the plan will roll over just happily with no intervention from the user. The refills do not accumulate. So it is in your interest to return to claim that refill irrespective of whether the cylinder is full or empty, effectively maximizing the amount of gas you get, and utilizing the full inclusions of the deal.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by trout1105

Not too many people weld with oxy any more around here and with the popularity of polly/pvc pipe and compression fittings for copper pipe work brazing isn't needed either.
On farm welding is done by mig/stick welders and the oxy set is used primarily for cutting and heating applications.
You would be hard pressed to find an oxy welding tip in a farm workshop these days.

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A little tangent, but pressfit (crimped) fittings were supposedly going to take over in my industry as they have done in plumbing, but all new large commercial/industrial refrig and AC installations are still brazed with oxy/acetylene using 15% silver brazing rod (or 45% on dissimilar metals)

I think it's a combination of size/pressure limited with the crimped fitting (three years ago when I last used pressfit fittings the size limit was 28mm)

Anyway, I'd still have my own oxy/acetylene as I can braze and oxy weld thin sections better than I can TIG [emoji23]

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger

Incorrect.
There is an included fill for each 12 month period, and the plan will roll over just happily with no intervention from the user. The refills do not accumulate. So it is in your interest to return to claim that refill irrespective of whether the cylinder is full or empty, effectively maximizing the amount of gas you get, and utilizing the full inclusions of the deal.

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To maximise the amount of gas wouldn't it be better to return the bottle then a week or so later pay for another bottle ? That way you get a full bottle and one free refill in the next 12 months.

Colin

Doesn't work that way, trust me.