Just recently handed in my boc D cylinder and got one from gasweld. I was paying around $170 a year and about $90 for a refill. From gasweld it's $340 for the bottle and about $90 for a refill so after 2 years you are $170 a year better off.
Buying mig gas
Started by
_judgelj_
, Aug 18 2014 02:52 PM
49 replies to this topic
#26
tuxedoss
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Posted 18 August 2014 - 09:57 PM
#27
Posted 19 August 2014 - 06:43 AM
Pretty sure my CO2 one is 10 years, not sure if some gases may be different? Although I wouldn't think so as we're talking about inert gases here, I think its mainly just being a pressure vessel. No reason why it can't be re-tested after if the cost is reasonable.How many years is there for the used by dates on the bottles ?
#28
_judgelj_
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Posted 19 August 2014 - 09:16 AM
So is this a recent thing? I know a while ago bottles were purchased, and as long as i've known they have been rental. What is the deal?
The other question is, does anyone do refills yet? And im not talking about swap and go.
#29
_judgelj_
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Posted 19 August 2014 - 06:47 PM
I called up about some rentals and it is $18 per month plus $60 refill. Does that mean you pay $78 when you hire it (if you are paying monthly)? Or do you pay rental only and $60 if you decide to refill?
They also mentioned CO2 and the more i hear it the more i am interested.
#31
Posted 19 August 2014 - 09:00 PM
^ Mine comes from the fire extinguisher place, the mid sized bottles are basically the same as an extinguisher.
In the rental scenario you should only have to pay the monthly rental; refills are only if/when you need them. However if you want to rent it for only one month you'll likely pay for the fill and get no refund when you return it only half empty.
In the rental scenario you should only have to pay the monthly rental; refills are only if/when you need them. However if you want to rent it for only one month you'll likely pay for the fill and get no refund when you return it only half empty.
#32
_judgelj_
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Posted 19 August 2014 - 10:08 PM
Will they fill CO2 bottles not leased by their depot?
So if you return it, you have to pay the refill no matter what?
#33
Evan
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Posted 19 August 2014 - 11:21 PM
The disposable bottles can be good value for those who are only doing weekend welding.
I have the disposable gas bottles in my eBay store.
A 2.2 liter bottle gives you about 35 mins welding time.
Argon / C02
http://cgi.ebay.com....me=STRK:MESE:IT
Pure argon
http://cgi.ebay.com....me=STRK:MESE:IT
Pure C02
http://cgi.ebay.com....me=STRK:MESE:IT
For the brewers , Food grade C02
http://cgi.ebay.com....me=STRK:MESE:IT
I have the regs too but they are out of stock until next week.
Usually only $47.00 delivered.
For forum members in major cities, freight for 2 bottles is only $12.00
Feel free to give us a call.
Evan.
0459298438
#34
Rockoz
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Posted 20 August 2014 - 10:51 AM
Nothing against your product Evan. But....
Your bottles look larger about twice the size of the ones I used.
The ones I used lasted less than 10 minutes being very careful with gas usage.
Would say that rather than weekend use it should be very occasional use.
After using 3 bottles in a short period I bit the bullet and went to a hired bottle.
Even with the rental it worked out way way way cheaper.
And at that stage I wasnt doing a very large repair.
Just my 2c
#35
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Posted 20 August 2014 - 11:10 AM
They might be good value but i'd like something that would last for a while. They might be handy for the occasional TIG? Or does TIG use a lot of gas?
Im going into the shop today to get some pricing. This is the email i received from speedygas.
Thanks for your enquiry regarding Argon bottles. We have a list of distributors on the website. All have our range of cylinders for sale to the public.
Argon 5/2 – D size $329.00 with a refill of $89.00 from our factory at Manly Vale.
Argon 5/2 – E size $449.00 with a refill of $135.00 from our factory at Manly Vale.
CO2 – comes in D size only - $280.00 with a refill of $40.00 from our factory at Manly Vale.
There is no delivery.
#36
LXM21
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Posted 20 August 2014 - 10:29 PM
Just recently handed in my boc D cylinder and got one from gasweld. I was paying around $170 a year and about $90 for a refill. From gasweld it's $340 for the bottle and about $90 for a refill so after 2 years you are $170 a year better off.
Yep Gasweld the way to go.
Took my E size back to BOC, got a D size at gasweld for around $320, no rental etc.
#37
Evan
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Posted 20 August 2014 - 11:56 PM
Thanks Rob. No offense taken.
You are correct that I should have used occasional in place of weekend welder.
My bottles are 2.2 liters where most others sold at burnings and the likes are 1 liter. 10 minutes seems a little low though. Did you have a regulator with a flow meter or one where you have to guess what your flow rate is?
Jocob, MIG uses a little less that TIG welding.
I personally rent a E size bottle as i use it a fair bit. I have found when word gets out that you have a AC/DC TIG welder, the beer economy for welding jobs more than pays for my yearly rental costs 
Evan.
#38
_judgelj_
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Posted 21 August 2014 - 10:46 AM
Yeah they aren't cheap. I was tossing up buying an AC unit and the prices are pretty high.
I went into the shop yesterday to get rental prices and its 3 month minimum term, $20 per month + the cost of the gas (refill price). So it would around $140 before i walk out the door. Then add $180 should i choose to keep it the rest of the year = $320 = should have bought the D size outright for $329.
Jesus, $140 before i walk out the door, if anything that's a big deterrent. They have handling fees for the refill, why not incorporate it into the price? Also asked about CO2 and got this stupid look which i hate from ignorant people that should be a little more neutral. He said the CO2 will freeze my reg unless its heated.
#39
Posted 21 August 2014 - 10:51 AM
The CO2 regs just have a little insulating washer I believe, it gets cold but its never frozen
#40
_judgelj_
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Posted 21 August 2014 - 11:52 AM
Do you use a CO2 reg or argon reg? When people say you need an adapter for the reg, are they referring to the use of an argon reg?
#41
kiwi-lilj
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Posted 21 August 2014 - 12:27 PM
I have frozen co2 regs before, but you have to be doing a shit load of welding before it happens. We fixed it by aiming a lamp with a high wattage bulb straight at the reg.
#42
_judgelj_
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Posted 21 August 2014 - 12:43 PM
So you use a co2 reg im guessing? As i've never myself connected gas to a mig, is it just one hose apart from the regulator?
#43
Posted 21 August 2014 - 04:12 PM
The reg needs a suitable fitting to screw straight to the bottle on the high pressure side, then its just a hose that goes over barbs with a hose clamp between the reg and the welder
#44
_judgelj_
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Posted 21 August 2014 - 08:48 PM
Oh yeah too easy. If you use a co2 reg however you wouldn't need a fitting would you?
#45
Posted 21 August 2014 - 09:43 PM
Not sure what you mean, it still needs to screw on to the bottle...?
#46
_judgelj_
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Posted 21 August 2014 - 09:58 PM
I mean that i have heard more than once that you need something to adapt the regulator thread to that of the bottle, being that they aren't the same. I assumed this was because people were using argon regs. My question is why not use a co2 reg in the first place? I'm thinking it is perhaps because people don't want to buy another reg depending in the situation.
#47
Posted 22 August 2014 - 06:57 AM
I see yeah I think you do need an adapter to use an argon reg on a CO2 bottle - a lot of welders come with them these days (although the bundled ones tend to be quite cheap and nasty) so yeah probably just saving a few dollars. In terms of buying new gear, if you buy the right bottle and a reg to suit they will screw together without any extras :-)
#48
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Posted 22 August 2014 - 07:27 AM
Hi all..
Been reading this with interest..
I use Supergas argon/oxygen mix..
$88 to fill the bottle, not to sure of the size.. Its not the tall one, the one under that.."e" size I think.. and at $16 per month rental, paid in 6 monthly installments.. Im very happy with their gas as Ive found the argon/co2 mix a bit too agressive for welding light steel.
Argon/oxygen is for .5 to 6mm steel and argon/co2 is for 6mm and up.
The guys using pure co2.. doesnt it just blow holes through thin metal??????
Im very happy with their service as I make a phone call and a full one gets delivered FREE the next day. Saves me time and about $20 in fuel for the trip, and Im rural.
Their rental is a liitle more expensive than the others, but way better service and attitude for the little guy. I use about 3 bottles a year.
and If you want to rent anything else, you can rent for the minumin monthly charge plus fill. easy..
BOC gases suck big time, their attitude is bad and they havnt got argon/oxygen, so their sales person says... and they charge to deliver.
#49
Posted 22 August 2014 - 10:36 AM
With the right settings and 0.6mm wire I can weld 0.8mm (possibly thinner) sheet metal without issues. Perhaps the ideal flow rate is a little different, but at the end of the day you're only purging the oxygen from the area to stop burning so I imagine any inert gas has to work to some extent? Which makes it kinda weird that an oxygen mix would be useful, it must only be a small percentage?The guys using pure co2.. doesnt it just blow holes through thin metal??????
I did come from using a gasless welder though so anything with shielding gas seems really nice to me.
#50
_judgelj_
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Posted 22 August 2014 - 11:30 AM
Mike, for you it wouldnt probably be better to rent considering just how much you actually weld.
Although the one thing i learnt about flux core is that most of my frustrations stemmed from simply having no idea how to set the voltage and amperage.
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