Gas Cylinder question

[GJUK]

Hello,

I was searching for the answer to my question and I found this forum. I hope you can help me . I'm quite new to welding and need some advice with regards to some gas cylinders.

My dad has given me two gas cylinders which he bought a few years back for use with a precharged air rifle.

They are now 'out of date' but still contain gas (Co2).

I've taken them to BOC to see if they would 'service' and check them but they won't touch 'em. I have been advised of a local divers place which will service them in Nottingham, however I want to fill one of them with argon/c02 mix for use with a MIG welder.

The question is, can this be done?

Cheers.

Jon

 

[madkayaker]

hi if they are out of test then they are potentially unsafe. I doubt you will get them refiled with a mix as the fill pressures are different what type of cylinder are they?

 

[Luke]

Hi Jon, why not do it properly and get a proper cylinder? there is useful info on here about low cost gas, various rental/rent free deals etc. imho, much better than messing with cylinders designed for a different purpose.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Jon, are they BOC cylinders or do they belong to someone else?

 

[GJUK]

Jon, are they BOC cylinders or do they belong to someone else?

Hello, No they're private cylinders bought from an air rifle shop quite some time ago, I think they're divers bottles, designed for use under water, with divers.

I can take some photos of them if that helps?

I'm only asking this as I currently have a BOC cylinder (which I rent from BOC) and as I weld only once a year or so, its costing me ~£90 a year, just sitting there.

Thanks.

Jon

 

[Wozzaaah]

In which case you can't blame BOC for not wanting to touch them then.
As has been mentioned, if they're out of test then they're not worth messing about with. If you want to use CO2, get yourself a pub type cylinder, plenty of places will sell you one and at least you know that the cylinder is in test and is therefore safe.
Read my shelding gas safety sticky, it tells you pretty much all you need to know.
There's also the suppliers sticky list too, I'm sure you'll find someone near you.
I'm moving this thread to the shielding gas section, it's better off in there.

 

[Shox Dr]

If they are diving bottles then it wont of been used for Co2. Test lasts for 5 yrs retest costs around 50quid, just make sure you mark your bottles before you take them for test as some places are known for passing off condemned bottles as yours and keeping yours. Oh and the condemned bottles are cut in half

 

[Stunter]

Diving shops can get them tested but as Shox said, they may condemn them too easily to get a sale out of you (can i say that? )

They couldn't fill them anyway, they will do air obviously, 02 for nitrox, helium for trimix and maybe some argon filling for drysuits.....