Fire extinguisher to the rescue.

[decca]

Had some welding to do today and ran out of gas. I have a pub bottle and use co2. It's a bit of a hike to get it refilled and would have taken up most of the day but I have a spare co2 fire extinguisher so I took the nozzle off and the regulator fitted straight onto the bottle.
There are probably reasons why I shouldn't do this but it got me out of a hole hope it might help someone else.

 

[Omniata]

Might want to turn it upside down...
There's usually a dip tube in them...

 

[arther dailey]

I was under the impession you had to turn them up side down so no powder is released?

 

[decca]

I was under the impession you had to turn them up side down so no powder is released?

It worked fine. It's a co2 extinguisher so no powder.

 

[arther dailey]

better get me one then ! I only have dry powder ones about.thought that was co2

 

[angellonewolf]

dont the fire ones have just more than co2 in them ?
i got a pub bottle and know i need to cheak with them its co2 only as they also do a mix one that gives a extra head on there beer and thats no good for welding

 

[mike 109444]

Think you will find if it has a dip tube it may tend to freeze up the reg if a long weld done as it pulling up liquid CO2 which then becomes gas.
A frosty reg .....burrrrrrr

 

[Omniata]

It worked fine. It's a co2 extinguisher so no powder.

It won't release powder as such, CO2 is only liquid under pressure, it sublimies from a solid to a gas at standard temperature and pressure, the dip tube forces liquid to the nozzle which then returns to a fine solid in the nozzle at blanketing the fire...

If you turn it upside down, you'll be releasing gaseous CO2 which will be kinder to the regulator, as Mike said.

If liquid/solid collects in the regulator it could block or damage the internal workings.

Heaters used to be supplied to go between the regulator and the bottle to prevent freezing of the regulator.

 

[Robotstar5]

Heaters used to be supplied to go between the regulator and the bottle to prevent freezing of the regulator.

I remember building a couple of welding machines for an Indian company and had to fit a bank of heaters as they were going to run it with CO2, don't think Ar mix is widely available there?

 

[Omniata]

I remember building a couple of welding machines for an Indian company and had to fit a bank of heaters as they were going to run it with CO2, don't think Ar mix is widely available there?

More than likely would have been fed from a bulk supply, as liquid, as well. Can be cheaper in some circumstances instead of manifold banks...

 

[Mee]

I remember building a couple of welding machines for an Indian company and had to fit a bank of heaters as they were going to run it with CO2, don't think Ar mix is widely available there?

It is available but very expensive and as they produce a lot of co2 it is very cheap.

 

[Gareth J]

Yea, I've probably spent 5 extinguishers set up just like that. Try it the right way up and see if you ever get icing issues. I did once or twice when welding really heavily but the duty cycle of the welder was more of a restriction normally. Gas is used so slowly it can normally evaporate up through the dip tube just fine.

 

[The_Yellow_Ardvark]

Any one needing Fire extinguisher information and advice please PM me.

 

[anto]

I turned mine upside down as when the fire extinguisher was the "right way" up, it was drawing liquid CO2 up into the reg and playing merry heck with my welds, upside down, results a lot better...

This is what I have done as well.
I think it was on here that I read to do that.

 

[decca]

I will turn it upside down.

 

[the snooper]

dont the fire ones have just more than co2 in them ?
i got a pub bottle and know i need to cheak with them its co2 only as they also do a mix one that gives a extra head on there beer and thats no good for welding

If its a mix it will state on it otherwise it should just have co2 or carbon dioxide on it, the colour of the cylinder also denotes it's content

 

[mike 109444]

Any one needing Fire extinguisher information and advice please PM me.

Rather than a PM I thought this might follow on. So IF you had an empty fire extinguisher (and it was in date) it has been mentioned on forum before that you could get it refilled at a company that deal with them or even at fire stations ????? Do you know where you might go to get one refilled (and cost?) as it might be an alternative for those up grading from disposable bottles but not wanting to go the BOC or pub cylinder route ??
I can see CO2 fire extinguishers disappearing....

 

[arther dailey]

I for one would like one, purely for portability ,rather than move a Y size bottle.sign me up....

 

[mike 109444]

I for one would like one, purely for portability ,rather than move a Y size bottle.sign me up....

At one time you use to see half sized pub cylinders (aprox 2ft tall) which would have been handy for attaching to rear of small portable welders but an extinguisher would be as good.

 

[mike 109444]

my local company said they would swap them out, £20 for the first, £10 for those after that, seemingly they don't refill theirs, just send them back to their supplier

Did they have any stipulations such as it must be in date, pressure test or such like? What sort of company was it ?
At that price compared to the disposables it's a no brainer (obviously if someone was up grading then cos of reg would come in to it)