Hi All,

I've just got this years bill from BOC for my Porta-Pac and another
year when it hasn't been sparked up. :-(

I was keeping it because 'you never know when you might need it' but a
couple of mates have them locally so as long as I could get whatever
round to them I could use their stuff in any case (I don't like doing
that etc but ..).

I have still got my SIP arc set (not worth getting rid of) and a
decent little Lincoln MIG unit (with BOC Argoshield, also 50 quid a
year and unused for a few [1]) for most my 'welding' needs.

So, wanting to retain the functions of 'gas' (things like light
heating / brazing etc) I was considering backing all the bottles and
buying one of those little gas sets you see [2] for about £125 quid
(less than a years rental on my Porta-Pac). :-(

Ok, I know the small bottles aren't as economical or flexible but I
assume less / smaller risk (fire / explosion), take up less space and
would probably be much cheaper for my current usage pattern.

If I really needed to have a set at home again then I have a BOC
centre 200 yards away. ;-)

So, anyone have one of these little sets please or can recommend a
particular make (and why please. I'm in Nth London). Something like
this maybe: ?

http://www.telfordgroup.co.uk/acatal...Equipment.html

All the best ..

T i m

p.s. I already have a tiny portable / disposable set that I have had
for years (that I'm about to go and dig out) and have used it for
some simple thin sheet steel brazing to good effect (on Mums washing
machine) but I fancied something a bit more modern and slightly higher
capacity.

[1] I already have a disposable Argon/Co2 bottle and reg ready to
replace the Argoshield but not tried it yet.

[2] Some seem aimed at refrigeration engineers etc?

On Thu, 15 May 2008 12:17:19 +0100, AJH
wrote:

On Thu, 15 May 2008 11:07:39 +0100, T i m wrote:

So, wanting to retain the functions of 'gas' (things like light
heating / brazing etc) I was considering backing all the bottles and
buying one of those little gas sets you see [2] for about £125 quid
(less than a years rental on my Porta-Pac). :-(

I'm in a similar position as trade dries up, I have the air products
pt10 oxyacetylene on a 5year term for 300 quid but will surrender it
next time around. I would still be able to draw bottles on a monthly
basis, I do this for coogar at the moment.

And I think that's why I am willing to give up my current bottles, the
fact that I can get some more fairly easily if the need arises (even
though at extra expense, I do feel a bit bad taking fairly full
bottles back and all my mates bottles are fairly fresh as well so
can't do them a favour).

For one off jobs with the mig I just keep a 2kg CO2 fire extinguisher,
although it's bad compared with proper mig gas but I found it much
better than flux cored wire.

I've not tried the cored wire but think I bought some (in case I ever
ran out of gas etc) ;-)

I have also looked at mapp gas and there is an electrically preheated
propane torch that Drax were trying to launch which will apparently do
everything oxy-acetylene will do except weld steel.

I thought that was the case already with these little sets, they will
do everything oxy/act will do except weld? Although it appears they
can also weld if the job is light enough. ;-)

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/s...ead.php?t=2020

All the best ..

T i m

In message , T i m
writes
Hi All,

I've just got this years bill from BOC for my Porta-Pac and another
year when it hasn't been sparked up. :-(

I saw someone using a Porta-pac when I last had a proper job 25 years
ago! I discovered that BOC also supplied bottles exactly double that
size (small F O2 and small M DA) so made up my own trolley to suit. ISTR
the contract was for 3 years rather than annual. Farming led to a lot
more cutting work so I changed to size K O2 and large F DA.

Things have quietened down now and, as you say, it's an expensive way of
ensuring you can undo wheel nuts:-)

regards
--
Tim Lamb

"Tim Lamb" wrote in message
...


Things have quietened down now and, as you say, it's an expensive way of
ensuring you can undo wheel nuts:-)

A plasma cutter should do that. 8-)

On Thu, 15 May 2008 21:12:14 +0100, Tim Lamb
wrote:

In message , T i m
writes
Hi All,

I've just got this years bill from BOC for my Porta-Pac and another
year when it hasn't been sparked up. :-(

I saw someone using a Porta-pac when I last had a proper job 25 years
ago! I discovered that BOC also supplied bottles exactly double that
size (small F O2 and small M DA) so made up my own trolley to suit.

Snap ;-)

ISTR
the contract was for 3 years rather than annual. Farming led to a lot
more cutting work so I changed to size K O2 and large F DA.

Ok .. I think all my bottles are larger than the smallest (better vfm
to rent and refill) but it's just the ongoing cost when unused that's
frustrating.

Things have quietened down now and, as you say, it's an expensive way of
ensuring you can undo wheel nuts:-)

It is!

From memory I think my Argoshield (Y?) is ~£60 / year so at only ~£1 /
week I suppose it might be considered affordable (especially if you
use it that is)?

Same with the PortaPac .. if I go down from the Y/J O2/DA at £138/y to
the baby E/K at nearer £90/Y rental ... the refill costs aren't half
and you have the dreaded 'transaction fee', hmm .. :-(

Nope, I think I'm gonna have to drop the PortaPac (and buy a mini
brazing set) and will just keep the Y size Argoshield (the smaller
Argoshield is still £48/Y) .... for now anyway .. ?

All the best ..

T i m

p.s. There seems to be talk of some more competition / options coming
along so we (d-i-y welders) might get some better deals?

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/s...3364#post33364

In message , "dennis@home"
writes


"Tim Lamb" wrote in message
.. .


Things have quietened down now and, as you say, it's an expensive way
of ensuring you can undo wheel nuts:-)

A plasma cutter should do that. 8-)

Also 25 years ago, I heard the use of *gouging rods* mentioned. The
application was removing welded down chequer plate covers on an *in
floor* industrial coolant system. I have looked for these rods since and
assumed I had misunderstood.

Is there such a thing? And if so, what is the proper terminology?

regards

--
Tim Lamb

Tim Lamb wrote:

Also 25 years ago, I heard the use of *gouging rods* mentioned. The
application was removing welded down chequer plate covers on an *in
floor* industrial coolant system. I have looked for these rods since and
assumed I had misunderstood.


Yes, They are high current with a black coating (graphite I would think),
and they don't deposit metal but melt and allow air?? to oxidise it out of
the gouge. Messy but OK for cutting cast iron which resists an oxy cutter.

Nowadays I wouldn't consider them and do most cutting by angle grinder as
they have become so cheap to use compared with the 70s.

AJH

In message , andrew
writes
Tim Lamb wrote:

Also 25 years ago, I heard the use of *gouging rods* mentioned. The
application was removing welded down chequer plate covers on an *in
floor* industrial coolant system. I have looked for these rods since and
assumed I had misunderstood.


Yes, They are high current with a black coating (graphite I would think),
and they don't deposit metal but melt and allow air?? to oxidise it out of
the gouge. Messy but OK for cutting cast iron which resists an oxy cutter.

Nowadays I wouldn't consider them and do most cutting by angle grinder as
they have become so cheap to use compared with the 70s.

Ah. Ta. The application is removing weld fillets from places not
accessible to an angle grinder.

regards

--
Tim Lamb

Tim Lamb wrote:

The application is removing weld fillets from places not
accessible to an angle grinder.

I'd still favour oxy-acetylene or oxy-propane for this.

AJH