Going to be free of BOC anyday now, and need a cylinder for mig.

[graffian]

Just waiting for someone with a car to come round and the cylinder from my tig goes back, must have had the cylinder quite a few years since it was refilled, so it was the very expensive gas.
However I need to use my mig, last used in 2005, I did wonder about stick welding, but I haven’t wielded a stick for a lot of years.

So i need a cylinder of Argoshield, who does the best deal.

 

[500e]

Also who is the closest

 

[graffian]

I had the name Adams in my head, a quick google and their places are not local. I googled SGS(another name i have seen mentioned) and the map is covered in their places. Nearet SGS place to me is even closer than BOC, Lowfield Heath. I am near Gatwick airport at the moment.

 

[hotponyshoes]

If you have 2 agents in your nearest town see who is cheapest.

If you only have one agent they are going to be cheaper than driving to the next town..

There is not much inbetween any of the prices. The only way you can save a useful amount is to spend more upfront and get a 300bar bottle or a bigger bottle.
But if it's going to take you another 20 years to get through it that's probably a moot point.

If it's only a small one off job you are doing this may be one of the few cases where a disposable bottle or 2 makes sense.
Probably cost you £50 for 30mins of welding time..

 

[graffian]

I am wondering what the mig is going to be like. it’s a 1983 mig that hasn’t been used for 20 years.

 

[hotponyshoes]

I am wondering what the mig is going to be like. it’s a 1983 mig that hasn’t been used for 20 years.

Maybe open it up and blow out the dust first!
You might want to strip and clean/regrease the drive motor.
Then maybe see if it runs when you pull the trigger and see if you have voltage at the tip.

Your main problem will be the insulation on the cables braking down. Both on the welding leads and inside the machine. Things like the main power switch may be stuck in whatever position they were in last..

 

[ahebron]

What about using CO2 for your mig welder?
Here in NZ we use converted square base fire extinguishers.
Must be options in the UK

Adrian

 

[Jack Ryan]

Just waiting for someone with a car to come round and the cylinder from my tig goes back, must have had the cylinder quite a few years since it was refilled, so it was the very expensive gas.
However I need to use my mig, last used in 2005, I did wonder about stick welding, but I haven’t wielded a stick for a lot of years.

If ARC is an option, why not use gasless flux core? No cylinders to worry about,

So i need a cylinder of Argoshield, who does the best deal.

Which Argoshield? There are quite a few variants.

Jack

 

[frank horton]

for CO2 I always used pub gas.....
landlord always was happy with a few quid....

 

[daedalusminos]

Hobbyweld is the other option - likely more outlets but probably a bit more expensive. Worth also considering whether any of the bottle deposit is retained, my local agent quoted:

small 9l bottle £70 deposit, £10 retained + £55 for hobbyweld 5
300bar Ultra £190, £30 retained + £160.5 for pure argon

 

[oldbikedavey]

Safety-Kleen are of the same ilk, but without any sense of shame.....

 

[Morrisman]

I had the name Adams in my head, a quick google and their places are not local. I googled SGS(another name i have seen mentioned) and the map is covered in their places. Nearet SGS place to me is even closer than BOC, Lowfield Heath. I am near Gatwick airport at the moment.

A car parts place near me sells SGS gases, I bought a bottle of argon from them. I got quagmired in all the numbers they fired at me, but the total bill was £260 for one of them 3’ tall 10” diameter bottles, can’t remember the litres.
They should return £80 or so when I take the empty back, I hope.

 

[Dragnet]

The owner/founder of SGS is a member of this forum and was doing a cashback offer. I've just got a large cylinder for MIG, and will shortly be looking at their argon offerings.

 

[graffian]

£260! I could get a cylinderoif argshield today, pay whatever the argoshield cost and £70 for a years rental, they will refund rental IF i take the cyl back.

I have just had an email back from Rose’s autos, they don’t keep SGS cylinders. they are on the SGS site.

So who’s the owner member?

 

[Bsmith]

£55 for argoshield here and £70 deposit for the cylinder, you get the £70 back if you return the cylinder.