Welding Gas

So, I have an opportunity to get some free oxygen and acetylene cylinders so I can finally start my own welding operation in my garage (no 220v). Only trouble is, they're huge and I'm not sure I'll be able to afford to fill them. Anybody know what it would cost to fill a 330cu ft acetylene cylinder? I may get regulators with them to sweeten the deal a little. I've also got to figure out how to get them out of my truck when I get them home without giving myself a hernia. I know I can pick them up, but only a few inches.

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Originally posted by 76GMC1500
So, I have an opportunity to get some free oxygen and acetylene cylinders so I can finally start my own welding operation in my garage (no 220v). Only trouble is, they're huge and I'm not sure I'll be able to afford to fill them. Anybody know what it would cost to fill a 330cu ft acetylene cylinder? I may get regulators with them to sweeten the deal a little. I've also got to figure out how to get them out of my truck when I get them home without giving myself a hernia. I know I can pick them up, but only a few inches.

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Your best bet is to trade down to the size you want with the welding company on the label........ just make sure they are customer owned bottles ... cuz if they aren't you WON'T own them and they'll want you to pay rent on them

Now back to what I started to say.........
You can trade down to a smaller size and they will give you the difference in cost between the large one and the smaller one
So the first time you'll end up with 2 full smaller bottles and more money in your pocket then you walked in with...... ;)

MM64 :cool:

Down sizing the bottles is a good thing. Try this sence your in the welding supply. See if they will give you credit on equipment instead of money as they tend to not want to give back any money. Not sure what type of tips you are goin to use. Ensure you place a fire extinuisher all the time next to the bottles an the fire marshal likes to see that. While your there check on back flash stops. They are devices that you put on the hose ends to not let a fire travel back into the line. I can't tell you what the cost would be for filling. It alldepends on the company that you use.

ROBERT

Ok, I got the cylinders 275cuft o2 and 230cuft acetylene. I had them filled and if anybody is interested, acetylene costs $.40 per cubic foot. The store was kind enough to give me a 15% student discount and paid less than $130 after taxes and fees. As long as I don't do much cutting, that should be about a 5 year supply. I have also bought a Smith medium duty welding kit (it was only $5 more than the light duty and came it with a tool box) and 10lbs of 3/32 RG60 filler. Hopefully, by the end of the week, I'll be fixin' all them holes in my truck as well as what ever else breaks around the house.

Check back with us in 4 1/2 years, ....................... to see if you have any of that gas left.HEHEHE:)

Speaking of welding, I was wondering what a plain wire feed welder was used for and if they are good for bodywork, I put on my Xmas list a MIG welder and my dad keeps telling me " are you shure it has to be MIG and a wire feed won't work " and I keep telling him, as long as it's 1 that is convertable to MIG with a kit, then it would be ok.

MIG is fine for body work. At the body shop we use MIG for filling in the holes, putting in new patch metal, etc. Works well but just gotta keep the settings down on it pretty low or you will burn right through the metal.

I decided to go with oxy acetylene because I don't have 220v to my house, I plan to do a lot of sheet metal work, you can weld just about anything with it, and it cuts. Oxy acetylene and TIG are the best for sheet metal welding bercause it is very easy to control the temperature, but the process is very difficult to master and laying a bead is a very time consuming process. The kit I bought can weld between 1/64th of an inch steel up to 1 inch. It cuts steel up to 6 inches thick. Now that is flexibility. With MIG, you hit the button and you're done, but don't expect to do anything much thicker or than sheet metal with a cheap welder. MIG is probably the best welder for the hobbyist.

You don't need 220 to run a MIG.

I've used one of those. All I can say about it is duty cycle. I am a man of little patience.

I almost forgot to mention the biggest advantage of oxyfuel. Because you don't need dark shades, you can see your work before you start welding so you don't accidently weld something you didn't want to weld.

There are some nice 115 volt welders out there. Miller makes a new one called the MaxStar 150. It puts out 150 amps, is smaller than you lunch box, and can be used as a stick or TIG power supply.

A lot of people think a low amp 110v welder is good for spot welds on sheetmetal,however you need to make a quick weld w/good penetration which requires some amperage. Be carefull of your choice there are 110v welders that do not have enough amperage or duty cycle. Try to get one of the big three.......Miller,Lincoln, or Hobart.If y can get a 220v it will be a good investment.

Now if you have big bucks Miller makes a kickass welder with TIG, MIG and Arc all in one and the MIG and TIG have the pulse type weld setting on them too. Really sweet but really damn expensive. My next welder is going to be something like that... but not anytime soon, this car will take all my money. :)

Currently I use a Campbell Hausfield wire-feed cause its a quick easy go for sheetmetal. My personal favorite is Oxy-acetelyne(I also like to see my work) But I learned in High school metal shop arc welding. My father has this large orange 220 stick welder I use when I need something thick welded. As for bad habits, I cant see that from you streets.