Spouse has received an advance invoice for five years supply of acetylene
and oxygen. It's about £700. He might not even be using it in five years but
the longer hire time is far better value than the one and three year times.
The price of gas is in addition of course.

He doesn't do welding on our cars any more and has no major projects in mind
which would need the equipment, it would now only be used for small,
occasional tasks.

So he's seriously considering alternatives. He has a MIG welder already but
would like to be able to heat steel enough to weld it. He's seen a portable
farriers' kiln which uses propane - does anyone know about this?

Or can anyone suggest a cheaper source of oxy-acetylene cylinder hire - or
any other suitable process?

TIA

Mary

"Mary Fisher" wrote in message
. net...
Spouse has received an advance invoice for five years supply of acetylene
and oxygen. It's about £700. He might not even be using it in five years
but
the longer hire time is far better value than the one and three year
times.
The price of gas is in addition of course.

He doesn't do welding on our cars any more and has no major projects in
mind
which would need the equipment, it would now only be used for small,
occasional tasks.

So he's seriously considering alternatives. He has a MIG welder already
but
would like to be able to heat steel enough to weld it. He's seen a
portable
farriers' kiln which uses propane - does anyone know about this?

Or can anyone suggest a cheaper source of oxy-acetylene cylinder hire - or
any other suitable process?

TIA

Mary


=============
Have a look at this:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...0&r=2037&g=105 as a
possible alternative.

By the way, did you mean to say, " ......like to be able to heat steel
enough to BEND it....? If you really mean some kind of pre-heating
equipment for brazing etc. there was quite a long discussion in the NG some
time ago on the subject of hearths heated by domestic gas which might be of
interest.

Cic.

=============
Have a look at this:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/product...0&r=2037&g=105 as a
possible alternative.

Thanks, I'll show him.

By the way, did you mean to say, " ......like to be able to heat steel
enough to BEND it....?

No, I meant welding, although of course he needs to bend steel. He has the
equipment for brazing and silver soldering. Copper alloy work is no problem.

If you really mean some kind of pre-heating
equipment for brazing etc. there was quite a long discussion in the NG
some
time ago on the subject of hearths heated by domestic gas which might be
of
interest.

I seem to remember that, what's more I think I kept it. Thanks again! It's
all grist to the mill.

Mary

Cic.

Five years up front! They're avin a larph. As I am selling up my little
engineering works at the moment I'll let you have the full kit for £300.
Full oxy, full acetyline (biggest bottles) set of nearly new two stage
guages A1 condition hoses and gas welding torch with selection of nozzles
( no 1. 3. 5 and 7) throw in another £25 and you can have an ANM sapphire
cutting torch. and another £25.00 a heavy duty bottle trolley to move them
around in...........................Oh blow it 320.00 the lot.
Steve

And you can always sell it when finished
Steve

On Wed, 11 May 2005 22:29:57 +0100, "MrBlueSkye"
wrote:

Full oxy, full acetyline (biggest bottles)

I bet you don't even own them. Not only are you a spammer, but now
you're offering to sell BOC's property.

On Wed, 11 May 2005 20:15:17 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
wrote:

Or can anyone suggest a cheaper source of oxy-acetylene cylinder hire

BOC - go down to the smaller cylinders. A Porta-pak is ridiculously
small, but the same trolley will take taller cylinders too (M & X
sizes). They'll fit in a car (not even an estate) and the rental is a
good saving over full size. They're rubbish for cutting, but plenty big
enough for welding.

If you're looking for heating and most cutting, but not welding, then
switch to oxy-propane. This obviously halves your cylinder rental. You'l
need a propane regulator and _must_ fix up the torches for the
different gases. Cutting needs a new nozzle in the old torch, heating
needs a new mixer and nozzle, if you have a bigger Saffire torch body.
Maybe a new torch, if you've only got a Machine Mart cheapie. You should
swap the fuel hose too, but this is cheap. My main oxy-propane torch
is a Saffire 5 body with either a H-1 nozzle (the others are too big for
most purposes) or a _huge_ 6" wide line burner, intended for cleaning
barnacles off oil tankers. A scary brute to use (I wear ear defenders),
but it certainly works.

This also gives you fuel for low temperature propane/air torches, or for
a forge burner.

If you go for a propane forge, then it needs to be a big box with
ceramic insulation inside. Otherwise you can't keep the heat up.
http://www.jarkman.co.uk/catalog/for...inderforge.htm
"Ducks nest" gas forges are rubbish, and chip forges are even worse.
What you want is a Ron Reill injector burner (follow the links above)
which you can either make from plumbing parts and web plans, or you can
buy for a reasonable price from a bloke in the USA (same link).

Or you could go for a coke forge. Much more traditional, and better in
many ways - so long as you have the space.

There are alternatives to BOC, usually cheaper, but they run a dreadful
cartel between themselves and they're all a bunch of thieving *******s.
In comparison, look at prices in the USA.

eBay is a good source for acetylene / propane accessories (new or used),
but avoid spammers.


--
Cats have nine lives, which is why they rarely post to Usenet.

"MrBlueSkye" wrote in message
...
Five years up front! They're avin a larph. As I am selling up my little
engineering works at the moment I'll let you have the full kit for £300.
Full oxy, full acetyline (biggest bottles) set of nearly new two stage
guages A1 condition hoses and gas welding torch with selection of nozzles
( no 1. 3. 5 and 7) throw in another £25 and you can have an ANM sapphire
cutting torch. and another £25.00 a heavy duty bottle trolley to move them
around in...........................Oh blow it 320.00 the lot.
Steve

Where are you?

Mary

Or can anyone suggest a cheaper source of oxy-acetylene cylinder hire

BOC - go down to the smaller cylinders. A Porta-pak is ridiculously
small, but the same trolley will take taller cylinders too (M & X
sizes). They'll fit in a car (not even an estate) and the rental is a
good saving over full size. They're rubbish for cutting, but plenty big
enough for welding.

Hmm. He said that BOC was much more expensive - perhaps things have changed.

If you're looking for heating and most cutting, but not welding, then
switch to oxy-propane. This obviously halves your cylinder rental. You'l
need a propane regulator and _must_ fix up the torches for the
different gases. Cutting needs a new nozzle in the old torch, heating
needs a new mixer and nozzle, if you have a bigger Saffire torch body.
Maybe a new torch, if you've only got a Machine Mart cheapie. You should
swap the fuel hose too, but this is cheap. My main oxy-propane torch
is a Saffire 5 body with either a H-1 nozzle (the others are too big for
most purposes) or a _huge_ 6" wide line burner, intended for cleaning
barnacles off oil tankers. A scary brute to use (I wear ear defenders),
but it certainly works.

That sounds promising ...


This also gives you fuel for low temperature propane/air torches, or for
a forge burner.

If you go for a propane forge, then it needs to be a big box with
ceramic insulation inside. Otherwise you can't keep the heat up.
http://www.jarkman.co.uk/catalog/for...inderforge.htm

I'll look, thanks.

"Ducks nest" gas forges are rubbish, and chip forges are even worse.
What you want is a Ron Reill injector burner (follow the links above)
which you can either make from plumbing parts and web plans,

He'd like that.

Or you could go for a coke forge. Much more traditional, and better in
many ways - so long as you have the space.

He'd like that even more- but hasn't the space. His little hearth isn't big
enough :-(

There are alternatives to BOC, usually cheaper, but they run a dreadful
cartel between themselves and they're all a bunch of thieving *******s.

LOL!

eBay is a good source for acetylene / propane accessories (new or used),
but avoid spammers.

We don't do e-bay - innocents abroad, that's us. He thinks it's like boot
sales and that everything's stolen!

Thanks, Andy, I hoped you might come up with something :-)

I'll show him your post tomorrow and let you know what he says, after all,
what do I know!

Mary

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message

Or can anyone suggest a cheaper source of oxy-acetylene cylinder hire

BOC - go down to the smaller cylinders. A Porta-pak is ridiculously
small, but the same trolley will take taller cylinders too (M & X
sizes). They'll fit in a car (not even an estate) and the rental is a
good saving over full size. They're rubbish for cutting, but plenty big
enough for welding.

Right, he had a look at your post just now and ws indignant (with me, not
you) because the Air Products 'deal' hs already has is the smaller cylinder.
He says that AP is cheaper than BOC - it was when he first got it. Things
might have changed, he finds that difficult to accept in any sphere of life
:-)

We've looked at the last charge, it's almost half of the present demand. As
I type he's querying it.

If you're looking for heating and most cutting, but not welding, then
switch to oxy-propane. This obviously halves your cylinder rental. You'l
need a propane regulator and _must_ fix up the torches for the
different gases. Cutting needs a new nozzle in the old torch, heating
needs a new mixer and nozzle, if you have a bigger Saffire torch body.
Maybe a new torch, if you've only got a Machine Mart cheapie. You should
swap the fuel hose too, but this is cheap. My main oxy-propane torch
is a Saffire 5 body with either a H-1 nozzle (the others are too big for
most purposes) or a _huge_ 6" wide line burner, intended for cleaning
barnacles off oil tankers. A scary brute to use (I wear ear defenders),
but it certainly works.

Thank you for that, he's interested.

This also gives you fuel for low temperature propane/air torches, or for
a forge burner.

If you go for a propane forge, then it needs to be a big box with
ceramic insulation inside. Otherwise you can't keep the heat up.
http://www.jarkman.co.uk/catalog/for...inderforge.htm

Now that is a revelation! It's a fantastic rig and he's very impressed (gold
star to Dingley!).

Thanks again, Andy, you've made him think, something I'm usually unable to
do :-)

Mary

"Andy Dingley" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 11 May 2005 22:29:57 +0100, "MrBlueSkye"
wrote:

Full oxy, full acetyline (biggest bottles)

I bet you don't even own them. Not only are you a spammer, but now
you're offering to sell BOC's property.

Well I'd suggest you save your money and not wildly gamble on uncertainties.
Who mentioned BOC? or is that the only supplier of bottled gases that you're
familiar with? Why include extraneous comment in a thread when you clearly
haven't a clue what your talking about.

On Thu, 12 May 2005 10:38:31 +0100, "MrBlueSkye"
wrote:

is that the only supplier of bottled gases that you're familiar with?

Of course not - they're just workshop shorthand for "The evil
multinational who rips us off on bottle rental", whether it's BOC, Linde
or Air Products.

But you _don't_ own these bottles, do you. They're either rented or
knock-offs, and you're offering to sell them as if they're your own
property.