Can I ask the members how they manage to get a supply of gases for
their oxy-acetylene torches?
It’s been suggested that I contact a local welding company and ask
them where they get their supplies from. Is this the general way that
USA workers made their supply connections?
We use a Wesco, a welding supplier in our area. Most places will
deliver. It’s safer too. -k
Tony, depending on the size of your town, you should be able to find
a local supplier for your gases that may even deliver. Good luck, Mike.
Hello Tony! You can buy direct from a welders SUPPLY… That is where
90% of us I expect get the required gasses. These places will sell,
rent, exchange bottles for you quite inexpensively on the norm. Good
Luck! Dan.
I just drive over to my local bottle gas supplier and trade in my
tank for a new one. A welding supply store should also carry the
tanks for you. That is were I purchased my torch and my first tank.
Elle
I buy mine from a local welding supplier, I own severral size tanks
for one reason or another but generaly the larger tanks are cheaper
to refill , the smaller cheaper to buy. I would recomend propane If
at all possible for gold and silver work…mike
Look in your phone book under “Welding Suppliers” or “Gas -
Industrial & Medical - Bottled & Bulk” Most of the companies listed
here will be able to refill a bottle that you own, or Rent/Sell you a
bottle of whatever Gas you require.
Usually all except very large users will get their gases and other
supplies from a local welding distributor. these will sell various
brands of equipment but the gases will come from one of the large
manufacturers although the distributor may refill cylinders from
liquid gases supplied by a manufacturer. Check the Yellow pages in the
phone book. jesse
It's been suggested that I contact a local welding company and ask them where they get their supplies from. Is this the general way that USA workers made their supply connections?
Normally, for items like welding supplies, one would look in the
telephone book for Welding Suppliers. Where the usual search
procedures do not work, asking someone that may know the answer is a
good idea and probably not confined to the USA.
Hi Tony,
Look in your Yellow pages under Welding Supplies. There will probably
be several dealers listed that sell and/or refill oxy & acet bottles
of all sizes. It’s be my experience that these sources also have
better prices than jewelers suppliers. That’s where the jewelers
suppliers get their bottles refilled. The only exception to this
source is the small non refillable tanks similar in size to the hand
held propane tank. These can be purchased at home supply & hardware
stores.
Dave
Hello Tony,
The yellow pages of any phone directory in the UAS will list welding
companies and suppliers if they exist in that phone system. Without
that directory, I think you should follow the suggestion and talk to
a welder about where he/she buys the gases.
Another option is an internet search. Since we don’t know where you
live and work, that would be useful in directing you to a
supplier. Best of luck, Judy in Kansas Judy M. Willingham, R.S.
Extension Associate 221 Call Hall Kansas State Univerisity Manhattan
KS 66506 (785) 532-1213 FAX (785) 532-5681
Tony, When I began using oxy-acetylene in my shop in MD, USA many
years ago I looked in the yellow pages under welding supplies and
there were any number of companies in my area that sell, exchange
and/or deliver tanks. Note: I said deliver…in some states it is not
legal to transport gas filled tanks in your car. Check on local
rules.
When I moved to FL a few years ago, it worked again. The yellow
pages provided numerous companies around my area that support welding
shops. I have never found it a problem to obtain oxy or acetylene.
Cheers from Don at The Charles Belle Studio where simple elegance IS
fine jewelry.
It's been suggested that I contact a local welding company and ask them where they get their supplies from.
I get my propane from the local home improvement center. They have a
trade in program so all I have to do is show up with an empty and
they trade for a new bottle. I get my oxygen from the same place
that every other welder in town gets theirs. They also supply
acetylene and other gases. One designer friend of mine leases a
large bottle of CO2 to use with her sandblaster. It takes up less
space than an air compressor and is silent. The neighbors really
appreciate it. The welding supply companies sell lots of other
really useful things that are less expensive than what you can get at
jewelers supply houses, like aprons, gloves, glasses etc. Be careful
though some of the items are much more expensive. I am thinking
about the mini torch that was priced nearly twice what you get from
jewelers suppliers. You never know what they have there that will
have a jewelry application.
Larry Seiger
Note: I said deliver...in some states it is not legal to transport gas filled tanks in your car. Check on local rules.
In Hawaii, you’re not supposed to transport bottled gases in closed
vehicles/cars. You can transport them strapped in open truck beds.
The local bottled gas supplier, Gaspro, has a photo back by the
loading bay of a car demolished by an exploded tank - a warning!
Being a small consumer, I call ahead to piggyback on the routine
delivery route in my area. The downside is having to plan ahead so as
not to run out of gas prior to the scheduled delivery day.
Donna Shimazu
The welding supply companies sell lots of other really useful things that are less expensive than what you can get at jewelers supply houses,
G’day yet again; ask your welding supplier if they can get you shim
silver solder. I just bought a metre x 1 cm and it is wonderful for
cutting those tiny bits (paillons) of solder 1 - 2 mm square for
chains, etc. You cut them easily with scissors; mine is 0.12mm thick.
It is probably extra easy grade, but a year or two ago I determined
the silver content, and it was the same as the easy silver solder from
a jeweller’s supply. – John Burgess; @John_Burgess2 of Mapua
Nelson NZ
One caveat about ozygen/acetylene suppliers, they are not all alike.
Some only will sell if you have a resale tax number, some look for
the small trade but others are interested only in big accounts, some
will sell the tanks outright then maintain them for you others won’t,
some have a charge or a minimum size tank for delivery [for safety
sake most will load tanks only on to open (i.e. pickup trucks)
vehicles].
A good start is to go in and talk to the people at the counter or
sales desk and find out about their terms and whether they are
interested in small accounts. If they sound like they are all grouches
or uninterested in your business the chances are your relationship
with them will be unhappy. Geo.
Can I ask the members how they manage to get a supply of gases for their oxy-acetylene torches?
Hi, I just finished getting a new set-up for Natural Gas/Oxygen in my
shop, (not acetylene) and it was a chore to find a gas fitter to put
the system together, nobody wanted to touch this job. But, finally I
got someone to do it, he piped in the gas from my furnace room, and
the oxy tank is outside and piped in. The hardest part was for
someone to figure the connections, and check valves. The great part
about this system is I only have to have the oxygen tank filled once
in a while. I just go to KMS Tools, and they fill it for about $20. I
bought my tanks but you can also rent them from various companies.
Another wet and rainy day in Vancouver, Tara
Legal or not, I would never transport an acetylene tank in my car.
It is just too dangerous. I understand that an empty tank is just as
dangerous as a full one, as there is enough residual gas in the empty
to cause a problem. In Portland, Or. I get my acetylene from Pacific
Airgas. When I call I do have to inform them that the delivery is
made to a residental area, It seems they need to take special
precautions prescribed by Oregon Law when driving through a
residential area, as trucks carrying hazardous mateirals are
prohibited unless the precautions are followed. -Alma
John Burgess is right. Welding companies have a lot to offer us. I
got my Smith Little torch with five tips, --Oxygen and propane tanks
through one of our welding companies and saved a bundle. I was
amazed and delighted as to the savings over the price being asked by
some of the jewelry suppliers. If it is not an item the welding
company normally carries they will be delighted to order it special
for you, as they did when I got my Smith Little torch. I showed
them the picture and description in the Rio catalog, and they orded
it, and even took the time to walk me through the entire process of
hooking up the regulators, testing the hoses, showed me how the
bleed them etc. A very nice experience all around.–Alma